bottomfeeder
Opportunist exploiting others
A bottom feeder is a fish or other aquatic creature that feeds on material at the bottom of a body of water—catfish, carp, crabs.
The term extends figuratively to people who profit from the lowest opportunities or prey on the vulnerable: bottom-feeders buying foreclosed homes, lawyers who are bottom feeders chasing ambulances.
The implication is of scavenging rather than honest work.
Barbeled freshwater bottom-feeder
- carpWhine about trivialities
- loachSmall barbeled freshwater fish
- sturgeonLarge armored fish
- remoraFish with adhesive disc
hagfish · flounder · sole · ray · skate · benthos · detritivore · sediment
One exploiting a host
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
- sycophantServile praise-giver
- freeloaderOne exploiting others' generosity
- vultureCarrion-eating raptor
exploiter · opportunist · bloodsucker · moocher · scrounger · hanger-on · deadbeat · user
Presumed loser beforehand
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- entry-levelRequiring minimal prior experience
- gruntLow guttural sound
- peonIndentured low-status worker
menial · underling · pecking order · totem pole · rank and file · small fry · nobody · second-class
Lender against personal property
- repo manSeizes collateral for lenders
- debt collectorOne who pursues repayment
- payday lenderHigh-interest short-term creditor
- subprimeUnder top credit tier
catfish
Barbeled freshwater bottom-feeder
remora · hagfish · flounder · sole · ray · skate · benthos · detritivore · sediment · substrate
parasite
One exploiting a host
- leechBlood-feeding aquatic worm
- sycophantServile praise-giver
- freeloaderOne exploiting others' generosity
vulture · exploiter · opportunist · bloodsucker · moocher · scrounger · hanger-on · deadbeat · user · lowlife
underdog
Presumed loser beforehand
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- entry-levelRequiring minimal prior experience
- gruntLow guttural sound
peon · menial · underling · pecking order · totem pole · rank and file · small fry · nobody · second-class · foot soldier
pawnbroker
Lender against personal property
- repo manSeizes collateral for lenders
- debt collectorOne who pursues repayment
- payday lenderHigh-interest short-term creditor
subprime · vulture capitalist · clearance · wholesale · secondhand
bottomfeederelite
Superior select group
high roller · top dog · power broker · mover and shaker · captain of industry
bottom, feeder, bottoms, bottomless, feed, feeds, feeding, feeders