open house

noun

1. a party or reception during which anyone who wishes may visit to share in a celebration, meet a special guest, etc.
2. a time during which a school, institution, etc., is open to the public for exhibition or for some specific occasion.
3. a house hospitably open to all friends who may wish to visit it.

open house

noun

1. an occasion on which an institution, such as a school, is open for inspection by the public Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)open dayat-home
2. keep open house
   to be always ready to provide hospitality
3. a house available for inspection by prospective buyers

Word History and Origins

Origin of open house¹

First recorded in 1520–30

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. keep open house, to be prepared to entertain visitors at any time:

   They keep open house for artists and writers.

Example Sentences

We never missed an open house where we would go see Building 800, and see how engines were made.

From Freakonomics

The agent said it was atypical for a seller to commit to Perdue without holding an open house to find backup options.

From ProPublica

Cheney and his wife told ProPublica they had an open house for brokers only before the home was put on the market.

From ProPublica

Because of the current pandemic, the majority of sellers are hosting virtual open houses.

From Washington Blade

The user’s workflow ends with an appointment for an open house with the listing agent.

From Search Engine Watch

The pressure on the Open House was not just from religious or conservative circles.

From The Daily Beast

Ahead of the count, Joe Miller greeted supporters at an open house at his Anchorage headquarters.

From The Daily Beast

One of our volunteers—a guy named Scott Lauer—went on to start Open House New York.

From The Daily Beast

For George Sand was most hospitable, kept indeed literally open house for her friends, and did so regardless of credit and debit.

From Project Gutenberg

With the self-confidence of youth and ignorance, we decided to keep open house on our own account.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, Madame de Mazarin kept a good table and an open house—two means of silencing scandal that are not yet ineffective.

From Project Gutenberg

The people dressed in their finest garments as though it were a holiday, and kept open house.

From Project Gutenberg

But she could not bring herself to spread any board with plenty, and the idea of an open house would almost break her heart.

From Project Gutenberg