Fooling, Harming, or Treating Badly (On): English Vocabulary List

to have a secret romantic or sexual relationship with someone other than one's own partner

"He cheats on her."

"It is deeply hurtful when someone discovers their partner has chosen to cheat on them."

to continually annoy or irritate someone

"His voice grates on me."

"The sound of his loud chewing really grates on my nerves and makes me want to leave the table."

to harshly criticize someone for their actions

"Jump on his mistake."

"The other students jumped on him for making a small mistake during the presentation even though they often made the same errors themselves."

to intentionally deceive someone by making them believe something that is not true

"Don't lead on your friends."

"She accused him of leading her on by acting interested in a relationship when he only wanted to be friends."

to keep treating someone unfairly or making unfair remarks about them

"Stop picking on your little brother."

"The older children at school tend to pick on the younger smaller kids because they think it is funny to bully them."

to disappoint someone by not fulfilling a commitment or promise

"He piked on the deal."

"He said he would help us move the furniture but then he piked on us at the last minute without any explanation."

to take advantage of someone's feelings or weaknesses

"Do not play on my insecurities."

"The clever advertisement tried to play on people's fears to convince them to buy the security product."

to suddenly confront, attack, or shout angrily at someone

"The dog rounded on its attacker."

"The usually calm manager rounded on the employee for making a careless mistake that cost the company an important client."

to attack someone aggressively, either physically or verbally

"The dogs set on the intruder."

"The farmer set his dogs on the intruder who was trying to steal apples from the orchard at night."

to cause worry or unhappiness due to a problem or responsibility

"The guilt weighs on him."

"The guilt of lying to her parents weighed on her heavily until she finally decided to confess the truth."

to take advantage of those who are vulnerable or easily fooled

"He will prey on you."

"Scammers often prey on the elderly by exploiting their trust and lack of technological familiarity."

to become unfriendly or hostile toward someone or something

"She can turn on you."

"The once-loyal ally decided to turn on his colleagues when he saw an opportunity for personal gain."