prey
n
1 [U]
(a) animal, bird, etc hunted and killed by another for food 被捕食的动物; 捕获物
a beast/bird of prey, ie one that kills and eats others, eg a tiger, an eagle 食肉猛兽[禽](如虎、 鹰)
The lion stalked its prey through the long grass. 那狮子在很深的草丛里潜步逼近猎物.
Mice and other small creatures are the owl's prey. 老鼠以及其他小动物都是猫头鹰的捕食物.
(b) (fig 比喻) person who is exploited or harmed by another; victim 被剥削者; 受损害者; 牺性品
She was easy prey for dishonest salesmen. 她很容易地让奸商敲了竹杠.
2 (idm 习语) be/fall prey to sth
(a) (of an animal) be hunted and killed for food by another (指动物)被捕食, 成为其他动物的捕获物
The zebra fell prey to the lion. 那斑马被狮子捕食.
(b) (of a person) be greatly troubled or tormented by sth (指人)为某事物所苦, 受到某事物的折磨
She was prey to irrational fears. 她遭受著无端恐惧的折磨. prey, v
1 (idm 习语) prey on sb's `mind trouble sb greatly 烦扰某人
Fear of the consequences preyed on her mind. 她担心其後果而惴惴不安.
The thought that he was responsible for her death preyed on his mind. 他一想到自己对她的死负有责任就感到心如刀割.
2 (phr v) prey on sb/sth
(a) hunt or catch (an animal, etc) as prey 捕食(动物等)
hawks preying on small birds 捕食小鸟的老鹰.
(b) make sb one's victim; exploit or attack 使某人成为受害者; 剥削; 掠夺
a confidence trickster preying on rich widows 一个玩弄花招使一些阔寡妇上当的骗子
The villagers were preyed on by bandits from the hills. 村民们受到山里强盗抢劫.
A 55-storey building went up in 1913, and in 1931 the Empire State Building was completed, then the tallest building in the world.
1913年一座55层高的大楼拔地而起。1931年帝国大厦竣工,这在当时是世界上最高的大厦。
In a few days I was learning and enjoying it like any child.
几天之后,我像一个孩子那样学习起来--而且学得很开心。
From this we get the expression to make a beeline for someone or something, which means to go quickly along a straight direct course for someone or something.
从这里我们得到一条短语"to make a beeline for someone or something,意思是迅速地沿着一条直线向某人或某物走去。