up for grabs

Idioms and Phrases

Available to anyone, as in Now that he's resigned, his job is up for grabs . This term alludes to something being thrown in the air for anyone to grasp or catch. [ Colloquial ; 1920s]

Example Sentences

The four teams who get into the play-offs via the Nations League will be put in with the 12 teams who finish second in their World Cup qualifying groups - with four spots for 2026 up for grabs.

From BBC

On Ukraine, former Labour minister Lord Peter Mandelson said: "Whatever happens to the fringes of Ukraine territory - and in that I don’t think anyone should be dictating to the Ukrainians what they do - what is sacrosanct is their freedom. That’s not up for grabs."

From BBC

The House, though still up for grabs as of Friday afternoon, is likely to remain in their control.

From Salon

All of this is very much up for grabs.

From BBC

Republican candidates are leading in five of the county’s nine assembly districts up for grabs this cycle.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ambiguous
• ambivalent
• dubious
• erratic
• hazy
• hesitant
• insecure
• precarious
• questionable
• risky
• unclear
• undecided
• undetermined
• unpredictable
• unreliable
• unresolved
• unsettled
• unsure
• vague