noun
- a day devoted to outdoor sports or athletic contests, as at a school.
- an outdoor gathering; outing; picnic.
- a day for military exercises and display.
- an occasion or opportunity for unrestricted activity, amusement, etc.: The children had a field day with their new skateboards.
noun
- a day spent in some special outdoor activity, such as nature study or sport
- 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
- military a day devoted to manoeuvres or exercises, esp before an audience
- informal a day or time of exciting or successful activitythe children had a field day with their new toys
- Australian
- a day or series of days devoted to the demonstration of farm machinery in country centres
- a combined open day and sale on a stud property
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.