enemy fire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enemy fire" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in military contexts to refer to gunfire or artillery directed at one's own forces by an opposing force. Example: "The soldiers took cover as they came under enemy fire during the battle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Enemy fire.

The New York Times

Enemy fire forced him to retreat.

The New York Times

Only two helicopters made it through enemy fire.

The New Yorker

The paddle wheels were particularly vulnerable to enemy fire.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Krzak's group was pinned down by enemy fire.

The Guardian

As Scheer and others swam, they drew enemy fire.

The Washington Post

But he organized his troops' resistance under intense enemy fire.

The New York Times

Suddenly, Brown's plane was struck by enemy fire.

The Washington Post

He added, "We had no one wounded by enemy fire".

The New York Times

Was Sandra's death under enemy fire a coincidence?

The Guardian

The other claimed he was struck down by enemy fire.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about military engagements, use "enemy fire" to clearly indicate that the fire is coming from the opposing side. This avoids ambiguity and maintains a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid confusing "enemy fire" with "friendly fire". "Enemy fire" comes from the opposition, while "friendly fire" mistakenly comes from one's own side. This distinction is crucial for accurate reporting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enemy fire" primarily functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or the subject of a sentence. It describes the act of being shot at by the enemy as demonstrated by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Wiki

22%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "enemy fire" is a grammatically sound and commonly used noun phrase that describes being under attack from opposing forces. Ludwig AI confirms this. Its usage is prevalent in news reporting, encyclopedias, and wiki articles, indicating a neutral register. To ensure accuracy, it's important to distinguish it from "friendly fire". When writing, use "enemy fire" to clearly denote the source of the attack, and consider alternatives like "hostile gunfire" or "incoming fire" depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hostile gunfire

Replaces "enemy" with "hostile" and "fire" with a more specific term, "gunfire".

incoming fire

Focuses on the direction of the fire, implying it's coming from the enemy.

opposing forces' gunfire

More descriptive, specifying the source of the fire as "opposing forces".

attack fire

Highlights the aggressive nature of the fire.

combat fire

Emphasizes that the fire occurs within a combat situation.

assault fire

Suggests a more intense and aggressive form of fire.

offensive gunfire

Similar to "attack fire", emphasizing the offensive nature.

belligerent fire

Uses a more formal term, "belligerent", to describe the source of the fire.

ordnance attack

A broader term encompassing various forms of explosive weaponry.

artillery bombardment

Focuses specifically on artillery fire.

FAQs

What does "enemy fire" mean in a military context?

In a military context, "enemy fire" refers to gunfire or artillery directed at one's own forces by an opposing force. It clearly indicates the source of the attack.

What's a good alternative to "enemy fire"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "hostile gunfire", "incoming fire", or "opposing forces' gunfire".

How is "enemy fire" different from "friendly fire"?

"Enemy fire" comes from the opposing side, while "friendly fire" is when fire mistakenly comes from one's own side. It's crucial to distinguish between the two in military reports.

Is it grammatically correct to use "enemy fire" in writing?

Yes, "enemy fire" is a grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase in written English, particularly in military and historical contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.