feeding frenzy
18
5.4
- noun
- /ˈfiːdɪŋ ˈfrɛnzi/
- Informal
:
frenesí
- When it was revealed during the hearings that Nixon had recorded nearly all of his conversations in the Oval Office, the Senate-- and the media-- began a feeding frenzy for information.
- media feeding frenzy
And so there's this, this cycle of just this feeding frenzy and it's all emotion.
- And so there's this, this cycle of just this feeding frenzy and it's all emotion.
- So then I'm going to recommend we lower the price and create the feeding frenzy.
Examples
-
The U.S. corporate media proceeded to have a feeding frenzy, with CNN's competitors all lining up to scavenge meat from Jordan's bones.
Academic text (2005) -
The company's announcement caused a feeding frenzy among investors eager to buy stocks.
-
So based on that response, there was a feeding frenzy of follow up questions.
-
But your brother is creating his own media feeding frenzy and all of it is negative!
-
With his blood in the water, this whole place is gonna be a feeding frenzy!
-
'Gentlemen, the press is already in a feeding frenzy' about the hijack.
-
Just a few years ago, there was another feeding frenzy over the shale gas plays.
Blog text (6) -
"The press will be in a feeding frenzy if this thing gets to trial," he continued, becoming more agitated.
Fiction book (1995) -
Already there was an advertiser's feeding frenzy as the upmarket products queued to get into future editions of the magazine.
Fiction book (1990) -
During the sale, there was a feeding frenzy as shoppers raced to grab the best deals.
Synonyms
136
4.9
A state of wild, uncontrolled excitement or activity
35
4.2
A sudden hurried rush to get something before others
22
8.0
A loud, wild situation of disorder and confusion
10
6.2
A wild fight or argument with many people and no rules
3
3.7
A strong struggle between people to get the same job or prize
Antonyms
How Intense
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'feeding' (providing food) and 'frenzy' (chaotic intense action) clearly signal an intense, chaotic activity related to feeding, so a learner can partially infer the general idea. However, the common metaphorical use (e.g. journalists, buyers, or investors wildly competing) is an extended, non-literal sense that a B1 learner may not predict from the parts alone, making it only partially transparent.
Etymology
Feeding frenzy may come from the image of sharks: many sharks doing feeding at once in a noisy, wild frenzy to grab food. So, the phrase describes people or groups who suddenly 'compete' in a wild, out-of-control way.