ENGLISH
REFERENCE

wide open

idiom
Meaning

Having no laws or law enforcement.


Examples
SIMPLE

That town is wide open — nobody follows the rules.

CONTEXTUAL

In the remote border region, the area was wide open, with no police presence for miles around.

COMPLEX

The frontier settlement remained wide open throughout the gold rush, its dusty streets governed by neither sheriff nor judge.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    cut a wide swath

    To behave in an expansive, flagrantly showy, or pushy manner, especially in public venues; to exert sweeping influence.

  2. 02

    into the wide blue yonder

    A faraway place which is unknown and mysterious.

  3. 03

    keep a weather eye open

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

  4. 04

    keep an eye open

    To remain vigilant for someone or something.

  5. 05

    keep one's ears open

    to listen for important information.

  6. 06

    keep one's options open

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

  7. 07

    kick at an open door

    To carry out a redundant activity.

  8. 08

    leave the door open

    To maintain the possibility of something happening in the future.

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