spotlight

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Takoyaki-English  #521518  Sun, 01 Jun 08 04:52 AM

Hello.


- Unemployment is once again in the spotlight
- The issue will come under the spotlight when parliament reassembles.


1) in the spotlight
2) under the spotlight
Are these interchangeable?

  
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Avangi  #521529  Sun, 01 Jun 08 05:16 AM

Probably so, but in my experience "in the spotlight" is the more common expression.   I'd take "under the spotlight" to mean "under a magnifier."

  - A.

"under the spotlight"     733,000   (Google hits)

"in the spotlight"        4,720,000

Thinking in terms of a stage performance, which I believe is the origin, "in the spotlight" means calling attention selective to one performer or attraction among many.  "Under the spotlight" means "to be closely examined."

  
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