fall prey to

USAGE SUMMARY

"fall prey to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is mainly used in an active sense to describe something being taken advantage of or becoming a victim of something bad. For example, "Unsuspecting customers can often fall prey to fraudulent schemes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Let us not fall prey to rumors".

The New York Times

Most of us fall prey to caricature.

The New York Times

I fall prey to whatever they have.

The New York Times

And don't fall prey to hysteria.

The New York Times

SOME converts fall prey to zealotry.

The Economist

Some sufferers fall prey to quackery.

The Guardian - Opinion

Others fall prey to the drug trade.

The New York Times

"You can't fall prey to that.

The New York Times

They also fall prey to false fantasies.

The New York Times

We all fall prey to assumptions.

Harvard Business Review

Don't fall prey to analysis paralysis.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fall prey to", ensure the subject is clearly defined and the object of the preposition 'to' specifies the harmful influence or entity.

Common error

Avoid using "fall prey to" passively. It's important to ensure the sentence clearly indicates who or what is being affected by the harmful influence. For example, instead of "Mistakes were fallen prey to", write "The team fell prey to mistakes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall prey to" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone or something becomes the victim of a negative influence, action, or entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and used to describe being taken advantage of. Examples from Ludwig show its use in contexts such as falling prey to rumors or scams.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

16%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fall prey to" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of becoming a victim to something negative, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a verb phrase, and its purpose is often to warn or inform about potential dangers. Its register is neutral, making it suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media. Common usage includes scenarios where individuals or entities succumb to scams, misinformation, or other harmful influences. Related phrases include "become a victim of" and "succumb to", offering alternative ways to express the same concept. The phrase's consistent presence across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its widespread acceptance and applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall victim to

A more literal alternative, indicating a direct experience of harm.

become a victim of

Focuses on the result of being targeted, emphasizing the victim status.

succumb to

Implies giving way to pressure or temptation, highlighting a lack of resistance.

be susceptible to

Highlights a predisposition or vulnerability to something.

be vulnerable to

Emphasizes the state of being easily harmed or affected.

be a casualty of

Suggests suffering loss or damage as a result of something.

be a target of

Suggests intentional targeting or focus of negative actions.

be exposed to

Indicates a lack of protection from something harmful.

give way to

Implies yielding or surrendering to something overpowering.

be at the mercy of

Stresses the powerlessness and dependence on something else.

FAQs

How can I use "fall prey to" in a sentence?

Use "fall prey to" to describe someone or something becoming a victim of a negative influence. For example, "Without proper security, systems can "fall prey to cyberattacks"".

What can I say instead of "fall prey to"?

You can use alternatives like "become a victim of", "succumb to", or "be susceptible to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "fall prey to scams" or "fall victim to scams"?

Both "fall prey to scams" and "fall victim to scams" are correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the desired emphasis; "fall prey to" highlights vulnerability, while "fall victim to" emphasizes the resulting harm.

What's the difference between "fall prey to" and "exposed to"?

"Fall prey to" implies succumbing to a negative influence or danger, whereas "exposed to" simply means being subjected to something, not necessarily with negative consequences. For example, "They were exposed to new ideas" doesn't imply harm, but "They fell prey to misinformation" does.