Phrasal verb
feed on
Definition
phrasal verb. to eat something as a main food source, or to get stronger from a specific feeling or situation.
phrasal verb. to consume a particular substance as a primary source of nourishment; figuratively, to derive strength, energy, or momentum from a specific source.
Examples
“Cows feed on grass in the fields.”
“The politician seemed to feed on the energy of the crowd during the rally.”
“Certain species of deep-sea organisms feed on the chemical nutrients released by hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.”
Examples
simple
“Cows feed on grass in the fields.”
contextual
“The politician seemed to feed on the energy of the crowd during the rally.”
complex
“Certain species of deep-sea organisms feed on the chemical nutrients released by hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.”
Usage
often used for animals or insects, but common in figurative contexts for humans.
Teaching tip
distinguish between the literal biological sense and the figurative sense where an emotion or situation sustains a person's motivation.
Pitfall
The birds feed on of seeds.
The birds feed on seeds.
the verb takes the preposition 'on' directly before the object without adding 'of'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
feed + on + object