enemies
enemies — noun
- enemiessingular
- enemiesesplural
1. a person who dislikes you and wants to cause problems for you or see you fail —
a person who dislikes you and wants to cause problems for you or see you fail — for example, a rival who spreads lies about you at work, or a former friend who wants revenge after a fight.
After the argument, Nadia and Darius became enemies and stopped talking to each other.
became + enemies after conflict
The mayor made several enemies during the election by attacking her opponents too harshly.
make + enemies (collocation)
Kofi refused to see his former friend as an enemy even after the lawsuit.
Chiara told her children that having enemies only makes life harder and more stressful.
People who spread lies about others often create enemies without even realizing it.
文法句型
make + enemies
bitter/sworn + enemy
somebody's + enemy
用法筆記
Commonly used with make, create, or turn someone into to describe forming hostile relationships.
常見錯誤
2. the nation or armed forces that oppose your own country in a war — for instance,
the nation or armed forces that oppose your own country in a war — for instance, the troops your soldiers face on the battlefield, or the foreign government your country is fighting against.
The army moved carefully through the forest to avoid being seen by the enemy.
the enemy (collective singular)
Enemy planes flew over the village three times during the night.
enemy + [military noun] as modifier
The general studied the enemy's position on the map before ordering the attack.
Padma's grandfather still remembers the enemy soldiers who occupied his hometown.
Both sides sent spies across the border to learn what the enemy was planning.
- ally
a country that fights on the same side in a war
文法句型
the + enemy (singular collective)
enemy + noun (e.g. enemy forces)
用法筆記
In this sense the singular form the enemy is often used as a collective noun referring to the entire opposing force, even when many individuals are meant.
常見錯誤
3. something that has a damaging effect on something else — for example, how stress
something that has a damaging effect on something else — for example, how stress harms health, or how lack of sleep damages creativity.
Stress is the enemy of good health and can lead to many medical problems.
the enemy of [abstract noun] — metaphor pattern
For a writer, lack of sleep is the greatest enemy of creative thinking.
Dirt and moisture are the worst enemies of electronic equipment and can cause permanent damage.
A balanced diet helps fight the enemies of healthy skin, such as sugar and pollution.
Doubt is the enemy of success and stops many talented people from reaching their goals.
文法句型
the + noun + of + something
somebody's + enemy
用法筆記
Almost always used in the singular (the enemy) in a metaphorical construction: 'X is the enemy of Y'. The plural enemies is rare for this sense.
常見錯誤
4. any group of people who oppose or threaten another group, not necessarily in a m
any group of people who oppose or threaten another group, not necessarily in a military context — for example, political opponents who try to damage a movement, or rival gangs who fight for control of an area.
The protestors saw the police as enemies trying to silence their voices.
see [group] as enemies
In the movie, the hero fights enemies from another planet trying to take over Earth.
The villagers united to defend themselves against the enemies who wanted to take their land.
Liam warned the team that there were enemies hiding in the forest near the camp.
Human rights groups face powerful enemies who do not want things to change.
- opposition
neutral term for people or groups you compete against
- hostile forces
more formal; often used in political or strategic contexts
- allies
groups that support and cooperate with each other
- supporters
people who back a person or cause
文法句型
enemies + of + group
fight/defeat + enemies
用法筆記
Broader than sense 2: the opposition can be political, social, or ideological, not necessarily military. Often plural.