open season
A situation or period in which some activity is routinely carried on.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Once the boss left, it was open season for office gossip.”
“When the company announced the budget cuts, it became open season for rumors about who would lose their job.”
“Following the publication of the controversial report, it was open season for critics to attack the administration's policies from every possible angle.”
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close season
A situation or period in which some activity is forbidden or discontinued.
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gooseberry season
A period, usually during the summertime, when news media tend to place increased emphasis on reporting light-hearted, offbeat, or bizarre stories.
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keep a weather eye open
to maintain a background awareness of something; to remain alert to changes without it occupying one's full attention.
- 04
keep an eye open
To remain vigilant for someone or something.
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keep one's ears open
to listen for important information.
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keep one's options open
To not commit to a decision, to keep various options available.
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kick at an open door
To carry out a redundant activity.
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leave the door open
To maintain the possibility of something happening in the future.
Last updated August 10, 2026