Collocations for enemy - noun

arch, bitter, deadly, great, implacable, mortal, sworn | dangerous, formidable, powerful | ancient, old, traditional
In today''s match England play their old enemy, Scotland.

chief, main, principal
The lion is the zebra''s chief enemy.

natural
The Church and the Communist Party were natural enemies.

common
They united in the face of a common enemy.

political

have
She didn''t have an enemy in the world.

make
He made many enemies during his brief reign. | I didn''t want to make an enemy of Mr Evans.

attack, fight (against)
He was prepared to use any weapon to fight against his enemies.

defeat, destroy | confront, face
He turned to face his enemy.

defend sth against, protect sb/sth against/from
The cat uses its claws to protect itself against enemies.

deter
The skunk releases a pungent smell to deter the enemy.

attack sb/sth

army, forces, soldiers, troops, unit | defences, front (line), lines, positions, ranks
The spies managed to penetrate behind enemy lines.

camp | action, bombing, fire
The men came under enemy fire. | the first casualty from enemy action

activity
Intelligence reported enemy activity just off the coast.

country | territory | aircraft, fighter, plane, ship | propaganda

against an/the ~
They decided to use the weapon against the enemy.

fall into enemy hands
The document must not at any price fall into enemy hands.

in the face of the enemy
He was shot for desertion in the face of the enemy.

public enemy (number one)
Since the scandal, the former minister has become public enemy number one.