短语 loan shark 直译是“贷款鲨鱼”，实意是指放高利贷的人，而且多数情况下他们是非法放贷的。
- During the recession, many people lost their jobs and turned to loan sharks to pay their bills.
- The police announced they will arrest loan sharks who have been threatening to break the legs of clients with late payments.
值得注意的是，另一个与海洋动物有关的短语是 sleeping with the fishes 用来形容某人被犯罪分子谋杀了，葬身鱼腹。美国电影《教父》促使了这个表达的流行。这是一个非正式用语。
- Don't worry about him, Vinnie. He's sleeping with the fishes. Don Corleone would be proud of me!
