Meaning & use
internal enemies
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Meanings
phraseplural
People inside a country or group who are seen as working against it.
Grammar: Always plural and usually takes the or a possessive word: the government's internal enemies.
Patterns
- the internal enemies of something
- someone's internal enemies
The speech warned of internal enemies who were weakening the nation.
Critics said the new law was used to silence internal enemies of the government.
Every large organization has to deal with internal enemies as well as outside competitors.
phrasepluralfigurative
Problems or feelings inside a person that make it hard to succeed or feel well.
Grammar: Used figuratively about a person's own doubts, fears, or bad habits.
Patterns
- someone's internal enemies
- fight your internal enemies
Her real internal enemies were fear and self-doubt.
He described laziness and pride as his internal enemies.
Common combinations
- fight internal enemies
- The president promised to fight internal enemies as well as foreign threats.
- perceived internal enemies
- The report listed journalists and teachers as perceived internal enemies.
- a list of internal enemies
- The secret police kept a list of internal enemies.
- internal enemies of the state
- In some countries, 'internal enemies of the state' is a serious accusation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- enemy within
- More literary and singular; it suggests one hidden threat inside a group.
- dissidents
- This refers to people who disagree with the government, not necessarily people who are disloyal.
- traitors
- Much stronger and more accusing; it says the people have actually betrayed their country.
Opposites
Commonly confused: internal enemies or external enemies?
internal enemies vs external enemies
External enemies are outside the country or group; internal enemies are inside it.
Practice
The government used the phrase 'internal enemies' to describe people who ___.
Choose one answer.
'Internal' means inside the country, so the phrase refers to people within it who are viewed as a threat. Option A describes external enemies, and option C is the opposite of the phrase's meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “internal enemies”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.