piranha

Thân thiện

A single piranha swims among aquatic plants in a clear river.

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.

Học thuật

Noun

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

Từ đồng nghĩa

• pirana
• caribe
• marauder
• predator
• vulture