sow one's wild oats
To spread one's genes around by impregnating many females.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He sowed his wild oats before settling down.”
“In his twenties, he traveled and sowed his wild oats, but now he wants a family.”
“The aging playboy, having spent decades sowing his wild oats across three continents, now faced the quiet regret of children who barely knew his name.”
From being a typical useless or counterproductive occupation (wild oats is a weed, and would not be sown).
- 01
a wild goose never laid a tame egg
Most things are inherited and predetermined.
- 02
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 03
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 04
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 05
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 06
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 07
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 08
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
Last updated August 10, 2026