no. 1
C1Informal, Journalistic, Idiomatic
Definition
Meaning
An expression for the best, most important, or highest-ranking person or thing in a specific category.
Also used informally to refer to oneself, one's own interests, or one's primary concern, often in phrases like 'looking out for number one'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can denote literal ranking in competitions/charts (e.g., 'the number one hit'), or a figurative/conceited sense of personal priority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: In BrE, 'No. 1' is common; in AmE, '#1' or 'No. 1' are both used. The self-referential usage ('look out for number one') is slightly more established and idiomatic in AmE.
Connotations
In both, sports/business rankings carry neutral-to-positive connotations. The self-centered usage is mildly negative or pragmatic.
Frequency
Highly frequent in both varieties, especially in sports, music charts, and business reporting.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
BE + no. 1 + in/for + NOUN (He is no. 1 in the world for boxing)V + to + no. 1 (The song climbed to no. 1)NOUN + no. 1 (no. 1 draft pick)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “look out for number one”
- “public enemy number one”
- “number one with a bullet”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for market leadership: 'They are the no. 1 provider of cloud services.'
Academic
Rare; appears in ranking contexts like 'the no. 1 cited paper'.
Everyday
Common for personal priorities: 'My family is my number one.'
Technical
Used in sports statistics, music charts, and software versioning (v1.0).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The single is expected to number-one the charts this week.
American English
- They hope to number-one the Billboard Hot 100.
adverb
British English
- The team finished no. 1 in the league.
American English
- They ranked no. 1 nationally.
adjective
British English
- He's the team's no. 1 striker.
- It's my no. 1 concern.
American English
- She's the #1 draft pick.
- Customer safety is our number one priority.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My mum is my number one!
- He is the number one player.
- This song is number one on the radio.
- Safety is our number one rule.
- After weeks of promotion, the album finally reached no. 1.
- In this business, you sometimes have to look out for number one.
- The company has managed to secure the no. 1 spot in a fiercely competitive market.
- His ruthless philosophy of always putting number first eventually alienated his colleagues.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a gold medal podium: the person on the highest step (No. 1) gets the top prize.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS VERTICALITY/SUPERIORITY IS UP (being 'number one' is being at the top).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation 'номер один' for self-reference ('looking out for no.1'), as it sounds unnatural; better to use 'свои интересы'.
- The phrase 'public enemy number one' is a fixed idiom; translating word-for-word loses its established cultural reference.
Common Mistakes
- Using it with articles incorrectly (e.g., 'a no. 1' instead of just 'no. 1' in predicative position: 'He is no. 1').
- Misusing ordinal 'first' in rankings where 'no. 1' is the conventional label (e.g., 'Rank first' vs. 'Ranked no. 1').
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase uses 'number one' in a self-referential, often selfish way?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In formal writing, 'number one' is spelled out. 'No. 1' (with the abbreviation) is common in charts, rankings, and headlines. In informal contexts, both are acceptable.
Yes, but informally, especially in music/business journalism. It means 'to reach the number one position' (e.g., 'The film number-oned the box office').
'First' is a general ordinal number. 'Number one' is a specific label for the top position in a ranked list, chart, or competition, and it carries stronger connotations of supremacy or popularity.
Yes, it's often used metaphorically. For example, a politician might call inflation 'public enemy number one,' meaning it is the most serious problem facing society.