open season

noun

1. a specific season or time of year when it is legal to catch or hunt for fish or game protected at all other times by the law.
2. a period of time in which a person or thing is exposed to criticism, attack, or recrimination:

   Election year is open season on all incumbents.

open season

noun

1. a specified period of time in the year when it is legal to hunt or kill game or fish protected at other times by law
2. often foll by on a time when criticism or mistreatment is common

   open season on women employees

Word History and Origins

Origin of open season¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

That program allows for similar choices during the open season except that it has far fewer carriers — five nationwide vision plans, seven national dental plans and five regional dental plans.

From Washington Post

This does not mean I am recommending open season and that your link building strategy should be entirely built on them.

From Search Engine Watch

We know that the skies are open season for all manner of drone traffic, from missile launchers to beer droppers.

From The Daily Beast

This public dustup signaled to Ahmadinejad's domestic opponents that it was open season on the president.

From The Daily Beast

The Everglades, overrun with huge reptiles, is about to host its first-ever open season on snakes.

From The Daily Beast

Don't you know that the law is on moose and caribou, and that there won't be an open season for at least five more years?

From Project Gutenberg

Then there is the lure of the water, which explains more than half his school truancy during the open season.

From Project Gutenberg

When the open season comes along I will drop out here and get the antlers.

From Project Gutenberg

So numerous were the pheasants at this time that on the first day of this open season about 50,000 were shot by the hunters.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been away on this distant work all the open season of 1889-90.

From Project Gutenberg