Region: General | Usage example: Celebrities live in the public eye, so every move is scrutinized.

In the public eye

Meaning

Under constant observation by wide audiences.

Refers to people who draw significant attention from the press.

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Stage performers felt the gaze of the public eye while on turret.

Late 19th-century newspapers popularized the phrase about public figures.