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for all the world to see

for all the world to see

5 3.7
Clearly visible to everyone
  • idiom
translation icon : a la vista de todos
  • Now she's gonna let this man take her picture and put it on television for all the world to see.
  • display for all the world to see

And they'll have their new target on display for all the world to see.

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Examples

  • When the plans came, he taped them to his bedroom door for all the world to see.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • We carry our objectivity inside us and wear our madness for all the world to see.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • And set them up for all the world to see.

  • Live your Christian life well for all the world to see.

    Blog text (29)
  • But I'm typing for all the world to see.

    Blog text (15)
  • I'll be the coward whose children feel loved, valued, and not humiliated for all the world to see.

    Blog text (17)
  • Slater was out there for all the world to see, including Omar.

  • Russia's underdevelopment and its backwardness were on display for all the world to see.

    Academic text (2008)
  • And while Yoni flaunts his paintings for all the world to see, Elvira hides her artwork and belittles her talent.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The beautiful artwork was displayed in the gallery for all the world to see.

Synonyms

publicly
vsfor all the world to see
575 1.2

In a way that everyone can see or know

is more about being clearly visible and obvious to all people
in public
vsfor all the world to see
339 1.0

Other people can see or hear you

is about being visibly obvious to everyone rather than being private
openly
vsfor all the world to see
303 1.6

To say or do things without hiding feelings

is about visible obviousness to everyone rather than frankness
in the open
vsfor all the world to see
104 2.5

In public and not hidden so other people can see or hear

is focused on being clear and obvious to all people everywhere
in plain sight
vsfor all the world to see
38 2.7

Easily seen because it is not hidden

is broader, meaning public clarity rather than just physical location
there for everyone to see
vsfor all the world to see
1 3.5

Easy for everyone to see

is open and obvious to everyone rather than private or hidden
publically
vsfor all the world to see
  • UK
7.2

Openly where many people can see or hear

is the common spelling variant used today rather than the less common form

Antonyms

125 1.1

A thing that is not easily seen or found

71 4.9

A person who does not tell others about their plans or feelings

How Visible

for all the world to see
5 3.7
clear
8 1.0
hidden
125 1.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

for + all + the + world + to + see

The phrase literally says something is presented 'for all the world to see' — i.e., so that everyone can see it — and this meaning follows directly from the constituents ('all the world' + 'to see'). The construction is common across languages to indicate public visibility and, despite a slightly formal tone, is compositionally predictable for a B1 learner who knows the component words.

Etymology

The phrase for all the world to see paints a simple picture: imagine putting something in the middle of a busy square so anyone who passes by can look at it. That's why it means 'openly visible' or 'clear to everyone'.