number one:
(usually written: “#1” or “No. 1”; plural: the same spelling and pronunciation)
a person (an animal or thing) that is the first or the best in skill, efficiency, order, rank or importance;
a very important person in an office, organisation, group, etc.; a leader; a chief;
(rarely) oneself,
Number one!
e.g.
Sarah is number one in our office; there’s nothing that she doesn’t know or can’t do.
When in danger, I’ll watch out for number one; only then will I care for others. (i.e. when there is some danger going to happen, I will take care of myself first and next I may do something for others)
There are some people who walk about with their chins up as if they were number one in their professions or trades, or fields of interest.
For a sports article that shows us how we come across this phrase in our daily browsing, please click here, for political blog post in which we see this phrase being used for all the Americans, please click here and for a new article in which we see this phrase being used for the top political leader, the President in this context, please click here.
Note 1: ‘Number one” is more commonly used as an adjective to refer to a person’s, animal’s or thing’s best qualities, e.g. ‘This is number one hotel in our town.’, ‘Coca-cola is number one soft drink here; most people love to drink it.’ ‘Safety for his children is his number one priority.’
Note 2: ‘Number one’ is also used for ‘urinating’, the act of passing urine and urine. Mother to her child: “Is it number one or number two, dear?” The child to his mother: It’s number one, mum; I just want to pee!” (‘Number two’ in this context is passing motion, faecal matter passed through one’s anus…’shit’.)
Note 2: ‘Number one’ is also used for ‘urinating’, the act of passing urine and urine. Mother to her child: “Is it number one or number two, dear?” The child to his mother: It’s number one, mum; I just want to pee!” (‘Number two’ in this context is passing motion, faecal matter passed through one’s anus…’shit’.)
