Yet more from CNN

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

JL wrote:
> Can you spot the errors?
> "ISIS in Syria is like a parasitic host exploiting the chaos."

Based on the sentence JL shared the speaker probably was making an
error. Yet, the phrase "parasitic host" is reasonable in some
contexts, e.g., when a parasite acts as a host to another parasite.

The Poems of Jonathan Swift
On Poetry: a Rhapsody 1733
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/14353/pg14353.html

[Begin excerpt]
So, naturalists observe, a flea
Has smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller still to bite 'em,
And so proceed ad infinitum.
Thus every poet, in his kind,
Is bit by him that comes behind:
[End excerpt]

FYI: Do Parasites Get Parasites?
By Daniel Engber Posted 05.20.2013
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-05/fyi-do-parasites-get-parasites

[Begin excerpt]
Parasites of parasites—sometimes called hyperparasites—seem to be
quite common. In fact, parasites of parasites are themselves prone to
parasites, leading to what might appear to be an endless progression
of interspecies abuse.
[End excerpt]

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org