食い物
く
い
も
の
Meanings
1
General term for something to eat; slightly more colloquial than 食べ物.
See also: 食物 (しょくもつ)
There's nothing to eat in the fridge.
He is particular about food.
2
Figurative use: a person or thing exploited or taken advantage of, like prey.
For scammers, the elderly are easy prey.
He fell victim to a fraudulent business practice.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉を食い物にするto exploit or take advantage of someone
He exploits people's weaknesses.
- 食い物を探すto search for food
We searched for food in the mountains.
- 〈人〉が食い物にされるfor someone to be exploited or victimized
Poor people were exploited by unscrupulous businesses.
- うまい食い物delicious food (casual)
This is delicious food.