From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishprivate eyeˌprivate ˈeye noun [countable] informalBOINVESTIGATE a private detective
Examples from the Corpus
private eye• Especially since Tunney's already struck out as a private eye.• Did they hire a private eye to wreak havoc on the life of the harasser?• Me in New York having drinks with a private eye.• I think in those days all private eye and detective shows were very cynical and hard-boiled.• Legendary San Francisco private eye Hal Lipset and five fellow gumshoes have an offer that may fit snug as a glove.• Roddy McMillan played the same Glasgow private eye but was called Daniel Britt on this occasion.Private EyeˌPrivate ˈEye trademark a British satirical magazine which is known for criticizing and making jokes about famous people, and for printing stories about dishonest or embarrassing behaviour by people in public life 