Definition

Noun: 1. A small, aggressive, carnivorous freshwater fish: A piranha is a type of fish known for its sharp teeth and voracious appetite for meat. They are native to South American rivers and are infamous for their potential to attack animals. 2. A predatory or aggressively acquisitive person: Figuratively, a piranha is someone who attacks others ruthlessly, typically to gain money, possessions, or advantage.

Examples

• Noun (Fish):
  • The documentary showed a school of piranha stripping a carcass clean in minutes.
  • Despite their fearsome reputation, piranha attacks on humans are rare.
• Noun (Person):
  • The corporate takeover was led by financial piranhas looking to dismantle the company.
  • He felt surrounded by piranhas after winning the lottery, with everyone demanding a share.

Advanced Usage

• "Frenzy like a piranha": To act with sudden, collective, and aggressive energy, often in competition for a limited resource.
  • The shoppers descended on the sale items with a piranha-like frenzy.

Variants and Related Words

• Caribe: Another name for a piranha, used in some regions.

Synonyms

• (For the fish): Predator, carnivore.
• (For the person): Shark, predator, vulture, scavenger, marauder.

Related Idioms

• "A feeding frenzy": While not exclusive to piranhas, this idiom describing a period of frantic competition or aggression is strongly associated with their behavior.
  • The news scandal caused a media feeding frenzy.

Noun

1. small voraciously carnivorous freshwater fishes of South America that attack and destroy living animals
2. someone who attacks in search of booty