Meaning:
The idiom public enemy number one refers someone or something that people hate.
Examples:
- For decades, smoking has been considered public enemy number one in the fight against cancer.
- Plastic pollution has become public enemy number one for marine life conservationists.
- During the 1930s, the notorious gangster Al Capone was labeled public enemy number one by the FBI.
- In some countries, corruption is viewed as public enemy number one, undermining trust in government institutions.
- Obesity is often referred to as public enemy number one due to its association with numerous chronic diseases.
- Cybercrime has emerged as public enemy number one for businesses and governments alike.
- Inflation has become public enemy number one for central banks trying to stabilize the economy.
- Fake news has been dubbed public enemy number one in the battle to maintain an informed public.
- During the prohibition era, bootleggers were often seen as public enemy number one by law enforcement agencies.
- In recent years, terrorism has been identified as public enemy number one by many nations around the world.
- That terrorist is considered public enemy number one.