# sow one's wild oats

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sow-ones-wild-oats
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To spread one's genes around by impregnating many females.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

From being a typical useless or counterproductive occupation (wild oats is a weed, and would not be sown).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.