long time enemy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "long time enemy" is not correct in standard English; it should be "longtime enemy." You can use it to refer to someone who has been an adversary for a significant period.
Example: "Despite their longstanding rivalry, they decided to work together for the greater good."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While Ongwen had remained with the LRA after it left Uganda, in January 2015 he handed himself over to US authorities having fallen out of favor with Kony over accusations Ongwen was providing information to the Sudan People's Liberation Army — a long time enemy of the LRA.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And much of the unrest was being orchestrated by Eritrea, Ethiopia's long-time enemy, he claimed.

The Guardian

Kagame was a long-time enemy of the kadogos and thus the meeting alienated them further.

The Guardian

Mr Kabila has improved security, especially since making peace in 2009 with his long-time enemy, Rwanda.

The Economist

Sonic stumbles across a world of floating cylinders in pursuit of long-time enemy Robotnik, and must progress through themed levels to free captured animals.

The Guardian - Tech

By the summer of 1940, the Nazis had conquered much of Europe, including long-time enemy France, and turned its attention to Britain, the last European power standing against it.

The New York Times

And then finally, fifth — a fifth logistical problem for the British actually wasn't so much about the American colonists or the British as it was about the British long-time enemy, the French.

Yale University

They had to keep their eye on their long-time enemy, the French, particularly after 1778 when the French joined the war on the side of the American colonists.

Yale University

And last week it struck a deal with Novell, a long-time enemy that is now a strong proponent of Linux, the open-source operating system that competes with Windows, to ensure that Windows and Linux can run smoothly alongside each other on big computers.This does not mean that Microsoft now thinks open-source software is a good thing.

The Economist

Now as I mentioned before — I think it's one or two lectures ago — before this crisis, with the close of the French and Indian War, colonial love and respect for things English was at a real high because during that war the colonists had fought alongside English soldiers against England's long-time enemy, the French, and had won.

Yale University

Rodríguez, founder of Nueva Trova, a Cuban movement that emerged in the sixties, mixing traditional folk music with politicized lyrics, hopes the changes in the island would bring a better understanding between its long-time enemy the United States and Cuba: 'I wish the White House would stop being hostile towards our country.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "longtime enemy" (one word) for better grammatical correctness and clarity. It's a widely accepted compound adjective.

Common error

Avoid separating "long" and "time" when intending to form a compound adjective. Incorrectly spacing it can dilute the meaning and weaken the impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long time enemy" functions as a noun modifier, attempting to describe the type of enemy being referred to. However, it's more commonly and grammatically correct to use the compound adjective form "longtime enemy". Ludwig confirms that the separate form is less preferred.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long time enemy" aims to describe an adversary with whom the relationship has been ongoing for an extended period. However, Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically incorrect, recommending instead the use of the compound adjective "longtime enemy". Although "long time enemy" is sometimes encountered, particularly in news media, using "longtime enemy" enhances clarity and precision. Remember that when you intend to create a single modifier that specifies the duration of an antagonistic relationship use the compound adjective form to ensure correct grammar and greater impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

longtime enemy

A more concise and grammatically correct alternative.

longstanding adversary

Emphasizes the duration of the antagonistic relationship.

old foe

Highlights the temporal aspect of the enmity.

long-term rival

Focuses on competition over an extended period.

historic opponent

Stresses the past significance of the conflict.

enduring nemesis

Highlights the persistent and challenging nature of the opposition.

perennial competitor

Focuses on the recurring aspect of competition.

chronically opposed

Emphasizes the habitual nature of the antagonism.

inveterate rival

Points to a deeply rooted and long-established rivalry.

long-lived antagonism

Shifts the focus to the sustained state of animosity.

FAQs

Is "long time enemy" grammatically correct?

No, the grammatically correct form is "longtime enemy". The words should be combined to form a compound adjective.

What does "longtime enemy" mean?

It refers to someone who has been an enemy for an extended period.

Can I use "long time" separately in a sentence about an enemy?

Yes, but the meaning changes. For example, you could say, "It has been a "long time" since we last fought our enemy."

What are some synonyms for "longtime enemy"?

Synonyms include "longstanding adversary", "old foe", or "long-term rival".