Learn English – Does “to be on the surface” mean to make something known to the public

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Can I use the expression "be on the surface" to mean that somebody finally makes himself known to the general public?

For example

They have been ignored so far by the public, but they are now using the Sewol Ferry tragedy to finally be on the surface.

Best Answer

Your choice of words in this situation requires some care, since the words you use may strongly influence whether readers are inclined to interpret the actions of the previously ignored individuals as cynically opportunistic or admirably public spirited. If you say

They have been ignored so far by the public, but they are now exploiting the Sewol Ferry tragedy to gain exposure and publicity.

the individuals sound quite cold and calculating, because they are being described as taking advantage of the tragedy to pursue their own agenda. But if you say

They have been ignored so far by the public, but owing to public interest in the Sewol Ferry tragedy, they are finally gaining a significant level of visibility [or "of public attention"].

they sound concerned and honest, because in this scenario the attention has come to them naturally rather than their having opportunistically sought to attract it following a calamitous event.

In either case you wouldn't want to use the phrase "on the surface" to mean "publicly recognized and paid attention to." The most common idiomatic sense of "on the surface" is (I believe) "at the level of mere appearances, but not necessarily when understood in greater depth."

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