单词 | bottom-feeding |
释义 | > as lemmasbottom-feeding bottom-feeding adj. (a) (of a fish or other aquatic animal) that feeds at the bottom of a body of water; (also) designating this behaviour; (b) figurative (depreciative) lowly, worthless; esp. opportunistic and self-serving; lazy, exploitative.In figurative use typically with reference to the scavenging behaviour of some bottom-feeding animals. ΚΠ 1860 Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc. 16 329 The remains of the Secondary continent, accumulated to the southward, caused cold currents to flow.., causing the extinction of the bottom-feeding and shore-following Tetrabranchiata. 1874 Forest & Stream 19 Mar. 83/3 As they are a bottom-feeding fish, they are more generally taken with minnow or piece of fish still fishing. 1920 Times 10 July 7/3 In some rivers and lakes the fish develop objectionable bottom-feeding propensities, and are seldom to be seen at the surface during the day. 1988 Washington Post 12 June (Mag. section) 13/2 Experts tell me this [sc. an end to lawsuits] will not happen as long as there are a jillion surplus, bottom-feeding legal-men in need of something to do. 1998 New Yorker 7 Sept. 48/2 They were afflicted by a steady barrage from bottom-feeding tabloid profiteers. 2002 Sport Fishing Sept. 41/1 Bank fishing for bottom-feeding species gets expensive over a bottom of solid coquina rock. < as lemmas |
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