VOCABULARY - IDIOMS

Public enemy number one

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.