field day








noun

  1. a day devoted to outdoor sports or athletic contests, as at a school.
  2. an outdoor gathering; outing; picnic.
  3. a day for military exercises and display.
  4. an occasion or opportunity for unrestricted activity, amusement, etc.: The children had a field day with their new skateboards.

noun

  1. a day spent in some special outdoor activity, such as nature study or sport
  2. a day-long competition between amateur radio operators using battery or generator power, the aim being to make the most contacts with other operators around the world
  3. military a day devoted to manoeuvres or exercises, esp before an audience
  4. informal a day or time of exciting or successful activitythe children had a field day with their new toys
  5. Australian
    1. a day or series of days devoted to the demonstration of farm machinery in country centres
    2. a combined open day and sale on a stud property
n.

1747, originally a day of military exercise and review (see field (v.)); figurative sense is from 1827.

A time of great pleasure, activity, or opportunity, as in The press had a field day with this sensational murder trial. This colloquial expression, dating from the 1700s, originally referred to a day set aside for military maneuvers and exercises, and later was extended to a similar day for sports and games. Since the early 1800s it has been used more loosely.

58 queries 0.546