the general publicthe ordinary people in a country, rather than people belonging to a particular group 普通百姓,公众
5health education aimed at the general public
针对老百姓的健康教育
nThe information is not available to the general public.
nGRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?
The general public is usually followed by a singular verb:
The general public is not at any risk from the gas leak.
In British English, you can also use a plural verb:
The general public are not at any risk from the gas leak.
Examples from the Corpus
the general public• Each is covered almost immediately and, so far as the general public is concerned, left virtually without trace.• Organizers of the president's funeral plan a large ceremony for the general public, and a small, privateaffair for his family.• No Pressappeals were made for assistance from the general public.• We have made great strides in de-emphasising the beer parties, but not many people in the general public have noticed.• Federman said this genderdifference is consistent with that in the general public.• We want the committee to include at least five members of the general public.• Does he accept that the general public will not mind in the least paying to see these magnificenttreasures?• The symbol gets the same message across to your existingemployees, to the business community and to the general public.• Very little official information is given to the general public.• She is a poet who is admired by other poets but not well-known to the general public.• They are not responsible to the general public.• This task it has admirably fulfilled, becoming very popular with the general public.
Examples from the Corpus
general public• The event was well supported by both Society members and the general public.• In the centres, the general public as well as students are made to feel welcome, and the atmosphere is overwhelmingly adult.• The financialstatement will be ready for the A.G.M. The donations from the general public show a decrease on previous years.• Convinced that the general public had an unsatisfiedthirst for knowledge, he took an active part in several educational activities.• Now these handmade beds are on sale to the general public.
the general public ♦︎ the masses ♦︎ the working class ♦︎ the proletariat ♦︎ the populace ♦︎ the crowd ♦︎ riff-raffThese are all words for the ordinary people in a society or country.这些词均表示普通百姓、群众、公众。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆the French / Russian, etc. masses / working class / proletariat / populace◆the rural / urban masses / working class / proletariat■the ˌgeneral ˈpublic [singular + singular or plural verb] ordinary people, especially when contrasted with members of a particular group or organization who have greater knowledge of or involvement in a particular situation普通百姓;公众◆At that time, the general public was not aware of the health risks.当时,公众对各种危及健康的因素尚不了解。◆The exhibition is not open to the general public.这次展览不对公众开放。 see also the public ⇨ community■the masses [plural] (ratherformal) ordinary people in society who are not leaders or who are not considered to be very well educated群众;平民百姓◆The railways provided cheap transport for the masses.铁路为老百姓提供了便宜的交通方式。◆This is yet another bid to introduce opera to the masses.这是向群众介绍歌剧的又一努力。■the ˌworking ˈclass [singular + singular or plural verb] ( the working classes [plural]) the social class of people who do not have much money or power and are usually employed to do manual work(= physical work with their hands)工人阶级;劳工阶层◆His films were the first to address the real issues of the working class.他的那些电影最先触及工人阶级的真实问题。◆Boxing was seen as a sport for the working classes.当时拳击被认为是劳工阶层的运动。 see also the middle class ⇨ middle classnoun, the upper class ⇨ elitenoun, working class ⇨ working classadj., class ⇨ classnoun4■the proletariatˌprəʊləˈteəriət; NAmEˌproʊləˈteriət [singular + singular or plural verb] (technical术语) (used especially when talking about the past) ordinary people who earn money by working, especially those who do not own any property(尤用于指过去的)无产阶级◆Marx wrote of the class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.马克思描写了资产阶级和无产阶级之间的阶级斗争。◆There was a rapid growth of the industrial proletariat.工业无产阶级迅速壮大。OPPthe bourgeoisie ⇨ middle classnoun see also proletarian ⇨ working class■the populaceˈpɒpjələs; NAmEˈpɑːpjələs [singular + singular or plural verb] (formal) all the ordinary people of a particular area or country(某地区或国家的)平民百姓,民众◆He recorded the effects of the war on the local populace.他记录了战争对当地民众的影响。■the crowd [singular] (sometimesdisapproving) ordinary people who are not special or unusual in any way群众;老百姓;凡夫俗子◆We all like to think we stand out from the crowd(= are different from other people).我们都喜欢自认为高人一等。◆He prefers to be one of the crowd(= not noticed as different or unusual).他宁愿做个凡夫俗子。◆She's quite happy to follow the crowd(= to do the same as other people).她挺愿意随大溜。■ˈriff-raff [uncountable + singular or plural verb] (disapproving, oftenhumorous) an insulting way of referring to people of low social class or people who are not considered socially acceptable贱民;草民;下等人◆We don't want to let all the riff-raff in.我们不想让下等人进来。