- Home
- Idioms
- public
public
alert the public
To bring something to the attention of the public at large, especially as a warning of some kind. The purpose of her video was to alert the public to the risks of eating too much sugar. We want to alert the public that the business will be moving to a new location at the end of the month.
public display of affection
A physical act of intimacy between a romantic couple done in the view of others. Often shortened to the abbreviation "PDA." I really wish you didn't have such a hang-up over public displays of affection—no one cares if we have a quick kiss out in the open! When we go out, my girlfriend is always trying to hold my hand or kiss me, even though she knows that any public display of affection makes me uncomfortable. I don't mind PDAs in general, but teenagers take it way too far.
the public weal
The common good of public society; the welfare of the general public. Having ousted the dictator from power, the new president has pledged to focus all his energy on the public weal.
air (one's) dirty laundry in public
To discuss very private, personal matters, especially that which may be embarrassing, in public or with other people. It always makes me uncomfortable when John starts going into all his personal problems whenever our friends get together. I just wish he wouldn't air his dirty laundry in public like that. People have an unnatural fixation on the personal lives of celebrities, but I don't see why they should be expected to air their dirty laundry in public.
wash (one's) dirty linen in public
To discuss very private, personal matters, especially that which may be embarrassing, in public or with other people. It always makes me uncomfortable when John starts going into all his personal problems whenever our friends get together. I just wish he wouldn't wash his dirty linen in public like that. People have an unnatural fixation on the personal lives of celebrities, but I don't see why they should be expected to wash their dirty linen in public.
make public
To announce or disseminate some information. Once this report is made public, I fear we'll all be under investigation.
(one) does not wash (one's) dirty linen in public
One does not discuss very private, personal matters, especially those that may be embarrassing, in public or with other people. It always makes me uncomfortable when John starts going into all his personal problems whenever our friends get together. I do not wash my dirty linen in public, and I wish he wouldn't either! Kids, please don't say anything inappropriate in front of your grandmother—she definitely believes that one does not wash one's dirty linen in public.
public eye
Attention from the general public. Typically used in the phrase "in the public eye." Famous actors really can't do much without being in the public eye—their every move is noticed and scrutinized. I'm pretty nervous because this is the first time I'll be in the public eye since that terrible news conference.
public intellectual
A celebrated academic or literary mind who puts forth views in a public forum or setting France in the early 20th-century was home to many renowned public intellectuals who often gathered and debated topics of the day.
be in the public eye
To be well-known and attract a lot of attention and scrutiny, as of a celebrity. Yes, celebrities make a lot of money, but being in the public eye and getting recognized all the time has its drawbacks, I'm sure. It's really tough to be in the public eye while going through a divorce, but at least my fans have been supportive.
air one's dirty linen in public
and wash one's dirty linen in publicFig. to discuss private or embarrassing matters in public, especially when quarreling. (This linen refers to sheets and tablecloths or other soiled cloth.) They are arguing again. Why must they always air their dirty linen in public? She will talk to anyone about her problems. Why does she wash her dirty linen in public?
Do not wash your dirty linen in public.
Prov. Do not talk about your private family problems in public. Grandson: How are we going to make Dad stop drinking? Grandmother: Hush! Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
go public
(with something) 1. to sell to the public shares of a privately owned company. (Securities markets.) The company decided not to go public because the economy was so bad at the time. Well go public at a later time.
2. to reveal something to the public. It's too early to go public with the story. Just let me know when we can go public with this press release.
in public
in a place or way so that other people can see or know about something. It's illegal to walk naked in public. John always tries to embarrass me whenever we're in public.
*in the public eye
Fig. publicly; visible to all; conspicuous. (*Typically: be ~; find oneself ~; get [into] ~.) Elected officials find themselves constantly in the public eye. The mayor made it a practice to get into the public eye as much as possible.
take something public
1. to make something known to the public. You gotta take it public—put it on the street—even when it's none of your business. Don't take it public. You'll just get talked about.
2. to sell shares in a company to the general public. (Securities markets.) The board decided not to take the company public. We're going to take it public whenever the market looks good.
in the public eye
known and talked about by many people
The former senator remained in the public eye even after retirement. We need to keep education in the public eye if we want support for improvements in our schools. Usage notes: the opposite meaning is expressed by out of the public eye: Illness kept the actor out of the public eye for eighteen months.
go public
to become a company in which anyone can invest It's the latest Internet company to go public and then immediately go bankrupt.
go public (with something)
to make something known that was secret before If she goes public with her story, the school's reputation will suffer.
wash your dirty laundry/linen in public
(British & Australian) also air your dirty laundry/linen in public (American & Australian) to talk to other people about personal things that you should keep private I was brought up to believe that it was wrong to wash your dirty linen in public.
See play dirty, talk dirtyJoe Public
(British informal) the public The test of any new product is will Joe Public buy it?
John Doe
(American) a man or boy whose real name must be kept secret or is not known, especially in a court of law The patient was referred to in court documents as John Doe.
John Q Public
(American humorous) the public You have to ask yourself what John Q Public will think when he hears about the government overspending.
be in the public eye
if someone is in the public eye, they are famous and are written about in newspapers and magazines and seen on television It's not always easy being in the public eye.
public enemy number one
someone or something that many people do not like or approve of Inflation has been public enemy number one for this government.
go public
Become a publicly held company, that is, issue ownership shares in the form of stock. For example, As soon as the company grows a little bigger and begins to show a profit, we intend to go public . [Mid-1900s]
in public
Openly, open to public view or access. For example,
They've never appeared together in public. [c. 1450] For an antonym, see
in private.
in the public eye
Under the attention and scrutiny of the public, as in
The rock star's activities were very much in the public eye. This usage, which is similar to
in the limelight, dates from the late 1800s. It should not be confused with the similar-sounding
in the eyes of the public, which means "in the opinion or views of the general public" (as in
In the eyes of the public the mayor was guilty of perjury). Also see
in the eye of, def. 2.
John Doe
1. Also,
John Q. Public;
Joe Blow;
Joe Doakes;
Joe Zilch. An average undistinguished man; also, the average citizen. For example,
This television show is just right for a John Doe, or
It's up to John Q. Public to go to the polls and vote. Originally used from the 13th century on legal documents as an alias to protect a witness,
John Doe acquired the sense of "ordinary person" in the 1800s. The variants date from the 1900s. Also see
Joe six-pack.
2. Also, Jane Doe. An unknown individual, as in The police found a John Doe lying on the street last night, or The judge issued a warrant for the arrest of the perpetrators, Jane Doe no. 1 and Jane Doe no. 2 . [Second half of 1900s]
John Q. Public
wash one's dirty linen in public
Also air one's dirty linen or laundry . Expose private matters to public view, especially unsavory secrets. These metaphors are reworkings of a French proverb, Il faut laver son linge sale en famille ("One should wash one's dirty linen at home"), which was quoted by Napoleon on his return from Elba (1815). It was first recorded in English in 1867.
go public
1. in. to sell to the public shares of a privately owned company. (Securities markets.) We’ll go public at a later time.
2. in. to reveal something to the public. (Especially with with, as in the examples.) Just let me know when we can go public with this.
John Doe
and Jane Doe (ˈdʒɑn ˈdo) n. a name used for a person whose real name is unknown. The tag on the corpse said Jane Doe, since no one had identified her. John Doe was the name at the bottom of the check.
take something public
1. tv. to make something known to the public. You gotta take it public—put it on the street—even when it’s none of your business. Don’t take it public. You’ll just get talked about.
2. tv. to sell shares in a company to the general public. (Securities markets.) We’re going to take it public whenever the market looks good.
in the public eye
1. Frequently seen in public or in the media.
2. Widely publicized; well-known.
go public with
Informal To reveal to the public a previously unknown or secret piece of information: The president finally had to go public with the scandal.
in public
In such a way as to be visible to the scrutiny of the people: "A career is born in public—talent in privacy" (Marilyn Monroe).
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| Gaines | | [geinz] | |
| Kore | | - | Greek Mythology |
| SreČKo | | - | Slovene |
| Nura | | - | Arabic |
| Susann | | zoo-ZAHN (German) | German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish |
| Isis | | IE-sis (English) | Egyptian Mythology (Hellenized) |