Start by holding up your non-dominant hand with the index finger pointing straight up, representing the prey. Form an open claw shape with your dominant hand to represent the predator. Move your dominant claw hand toward the index finger and firmly grab it, closing your hand into a fist around the finger.
Sign "lion", "hunt", and then use the sign for "prey" to show the lion catching its target. Make sure to use an intense facial expression during the grabbing motion.
Sign "mouse", "owl", and then use the sign for "prey" to indicate the relationship between them. The quick grabbing motion perfectly illustrates the owl swooping down on the mouse.
Sign "bird", "look down", and then "prey" to show the bird targeting its meal. You can angle the grabbing motion slightly downward to show the bird striking from the sky.
Sign "lion", "hunt", and then use the sign for "prey" to show the lion catching its target. Make sure to use an intense facial expression during the grabbing motion.
Sign "mouse", "owl", and then use the sign for "prey" to indicate the relationship between them. The quick grabbing motion perfectly illustrates the owl swooping down on the mouse.
Sign "bird", "look down", and then "prey" to show the bird targeting its meal. You can angle the grabbing motion slightly downward to show the bird striking from the sky.
Yes, this sign can absolutely be used metaphorically for a person who is a victim or target. For example, if someone falls prey to a scam or a bully, this sign works perfectly because the upright index finger classifier is commonly used in ASL to represent a person.
They are similar and visually related, but "catch" often involves grabbing an imaginary object out of the air or across the body with one or both hands. The sign for "prey" specifically uses the non-dominant index finger to represent a living, stationary target being aggressively grabbed by a predator.
Yes, it is best to use your dominant hand as the predator—the claw that does the moving and grabbing—and your non-dominant hand as the prey, which is the upright index finger. This follows the standard ASL symmetry rule where the dominant hand performs the primary active motion.
