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public eye

/ˌpʌblɪk aɪ/
IPA guide

Other forms: public eyes

The public eye is the attention of the general public, or the focus of many people. Movie stars and famous criminals are both examples of people in the public eye.

"In the public eye" is an idiom, a common phrase that means something other than its literal meaning. You could also call it "the limelight." People who are well-known, or who become briefly famous, are in the public eye. If your picture is often on the cover of the newspapers or online magazines, you're in the public eye.

Definitions of public eye
  1. noun
    a focus of public attention
    synonyms: glare, limelight, spotlight
    see moresee less
    type of:
    prominence
    the state of being prominent: widely known or eminent
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘public eye'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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