public eye—1. public attention or notice: It was a gramo- phone recording that first brought her before the public eye . 2. public opinion or judgment: He resumed his place in the public eye as the thundering Jove of the Opposition. private school (UK) • private school (U.S.) private school (UK)—independent school that is funded wholly by the payment of fees: I was a teacher in one of those private schools , which was basically a very expensive crammer for the sons of oil sheiks. private school (U.S.)—independent school supported in part by the public (state) funds: Douglas was sent to a swanky pri - vate school but was still unable to pass the U.S. Army officers’ selection board. See also: public school (UK) / public school (U.S.) pro and con • pros and cons pro and con —for and against (used as an adjective or adverb): In these hot political times, the pro and con facts should be presented and the people should voice their opinions. pros and cons —(used as a noun) the arguments in favor and in opposition: He would weigh the pros and cons of an issue, then make up his mind. proceed to something • proceed with something proceed to something—move on to the next stage in smth.: Sixty votes were required to stop debate and proceed to a vote on the nomination for Pryor. proceed with something —continue with the chosen activity: The government will proceed with the talks and the outcome will be presented to the committee. profit from something • profiteer from something profit from something—be benefited or gain advantage from smth.: I have not solicited Professor Allen’s financial counsel, but have profited from his advice on many other matters. profiteer from something—make large profits unfairly, espe- cially taking advantage of times of scarcity: When the war ended, the traders who had profiteered from the shortage went out of business. prohibition law • prohibitory law prohibition law—a law prohibiting the making or sale of alcoholic drinks, specifically in the USA in the period 1920– 1933: A petition will be circulated calling for repeal of the state’s liquor prohibition law . prohibitory law —1. a law prohibiting the making or sale of alcohol: A prohibitory law was passed in Maine in 1846, and in 1851 a more stringent one, including the provision for the seizure and destruction of intoxicating liquors. 2. a law de- signed to prohibit smth.: State and federal courts have previ- ously recognized medical necessity defenses against the strict prohibitory laws regarding marijuana. protective belt • safety belt protective belt—1. a kind of supportive brace made of highly elastic material: Ballesteros wore a protective belt to cushion his aching back. 2. a long narrow strip of forest to protect crops, etc.: A sinuous, chaotic river with a thick protective belt of forests became a contained, channelized canal. safety belt—a strap attached to a seat in a car or airplane to hold the passenger in his seat in the event of an accident: He would have been killed if he hadn’t been wearing a safety belt . Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the com- pound lifebelt—a large ring used to keep a person afloat and prevent him from drowning: The lifelines—easier to use and more accurate than lifebelts —were provided. protest against something • protest something protest against something —express one’s opposition to smth.: In a recent number of the Guy’s Hospital Gazette the editor protests against the too free use of students as blood donors. protest something —affirm smth. strongly against opposition: Rachel protested her innocence for those long twelve years, claiming that it was Daniel who fired the fatal shot. proud of someone • proud to someone proud of someone—(also: proud for someone) having or show- ing a proper pride in smb.: He’s my son, and he’s a chip off the old block, and I’m proud of him. proud to someone—thinking oneself superior to a person: You must not be proud to those who are less fortunate than yourself. provide cover against something • provide cover from something provide cover against something—1. offer protection against rain, snow, etc.: The patios could be surrounded by porches that would provide cover against the rain. 2. insure a person against loss, damage, etc.: This will cover all the risks that are listed, but is extended to provide cover against accidents in the home. provide cover from something— = provide cover against some- thing 1: John was soaked before he reached the first brick build- ing that provided cover from the rain. public house • public housing public house —a licensed saloon or bar: Both these sorts of public house are essentially working class; the blackcoat’s pub is another sort of place. Note: a) The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase public bar(UK) a drinking room in a pub where drinks are sold at the counter, as contrasted with a “saloon bar” or “lounge bar” where tables are provided and drinks are brought by waiters: Pubs usually have two separate rooms; first, public bar which is in general frequented more by men … second, lounge bar in which there is more equal number of men and women. b) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase public home—a communal building: There are a number of hospitals, asylums and public homes , including ten public hospitals, the largest of which is the Toronto General hospi- tal. public housing —low-rent dwellings owned or administered by a government: When federal officials hoped to proceed to more substantial matters such as public housing and public assistance, the states turned balky. public school (UK) • public school (U.S.) public school (UK)—prestigious fee-paying independent sec- ondary school, usually boarding: They called that kind of school a public school , which in England was the name for a private school which your parents have to pay quite a lot of money to send you to. public school (U.S.)—non-fee-paying school supported by public funds and controlled by a local governmental authority: The rates have been lowered and the town people had been wooed to send their sons to Gilford instead of to public school . See also: private school (UK) / private school (U.S.). pull a face • pull a long face pull a face —show one’s dislike, disgust, or derision by one’s facial expression: He pulled a face as if he had heard a slate pencil gritting against a slate. pull a long face—assume an unhappy, dismal expression: Peter pulled a long face when the results of the competition were announced. private school – 272 –