A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

in proportion of something • in proportion to
something
in proportion of something —in terms of how much there is
of each thing (in a combination): Make a syrup of the sugar
and water in proportion of a pint of sugar to a quart of water…
in proportion to something —
1
. as compared with smth.; con-
sidered with reference to smth.: His expenditure on pleasure
and luxuries is rather high in proportion to his income. 2.
corresponding to smth. in degree or amount: The subjects
ought to contribute towards the support of the government
in proportion to their respective abilities.
in public • in the public eye
in public — do smth. in such a way that the public may see,
hear, or know: They will not admit it in public, but … they
also know of these problems.
in the public eye —
1
. (of people or things) much publicized by
the media: His investigations on behalf of these men kept him
in the public eye. 2. in the opinion of the public: He regretted,
I think, that in the public eye he was regarded as the guy who
had failed and ended up in the gutter.
in Queer street • on the queer
in Queer street—(UK dated) heavily in debt; in financial
trouble: Now don’t you go doing anything that’ll land you in
Queer Street.
on the queer —(Underworld) living dishonestly: He was con-
vinced that he could get along as well on the queer as he could
by keeping straight.
in question • out of the question
in question— under consideration; forming the subject of
discourse: While Dr. Bits really is an authority, he is not an
authority on the issue in question.
out of the question —impossible in the circumstances; not
worth considering: Any effort by the military to defy civilian
authority is now out of the question.