feeding frenzy

American  

noun

1. Slang. a ruthless attack on or exploitation of someone especially by the media.

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feeding frenzy British  

noun

1. a phenomenon in which aquatic predators, esp sharks, become so excited when eating that they attack each other

2. a period of intense excitement over or interest in a person or thing

   the media erupt into a feeding frenzy

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Etymology

Origin of feeding frenzy

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Over the past 30 years, the Beckhams have navigated a media landscape that has morphed from a tabloid feeding frenzy into a social media free-for-all, so the instinct to protect their image is perhaps understandable.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

The result, he says, was a flat-out feeding frenzy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2025

But what causes the black hole’s feeding frenzy to start and later choke off again?

From Science Magazine • Jun. 17, 2024

“The dot-com boom was a feeding frenzy where stupid companies went public, but Napster was a legit technology,” Menn said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2024

Behind them, the feeding frenzy calmed down, and the other seabirds flew off.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown