ENGLISH
REFERENCE

open field

idiom
Meaning

A situation with no obstacles or limitations; a clear opportunity to act freely or without significant competition.


Examples
SIMPLE

With the competition gone, it is an open field for us.

CONTEXTUAL

Since the main rival company went bankrupt, it is an open field for our new product launch.

COMPLEX

The sudden resignation of the incumbent director created an open field for ambitious junior staff members to pursue the leadership role.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    cede the field

    To withdraw from any confrontational or potentially confrontational situation; to avoid participating in a competition or contest.

  2. 02

    center field

    A central role in some activity that requires speed.

  3. 03

    debris field

    Any area, non-dependent of locale, space, or contour, that contains the debris of wreckage, impact, sinking, or other material that once constituted a complete object. Debris fields can be found at the site of air crashes, water vessel sinking, explosions of buildings, collapses, and other events that render a whole entity into components, pieces, or other non-whole items.

  4. 04

    field day

    A great time or a great deal to do; a period of bustling activity.

  5. 05

    keep a weather eye open

    to maintain a background awareness of something; to remain alert to changes without it occupying one's full attention.

  6. 06

    keep an eye open

    To remain vigilant for someone or something.

  7. 07

    keep one's ears open

    to listen for important information.

  8. 08

    keep one's options open

    To not commit to a decision, to keep various options available.

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