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.

See also: eye

air one's dirty linen in public and wash one's dirty linen in public

Fig. 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?

See also: air, dirty, linen

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.

See also: dirty, linen, wash

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.

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.

See also: take

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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.

See also: eye

Joe Public  (British informal)

the public The test of any new product is will Joe Public buy it?

See also: joe

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.

See also: john

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.

See also: enemy, number, one

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 dirty

See also: dirty, laundry, wash

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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.

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.

See also: eye