wild oat

noun

1. any uncultivated species of Avena, especially a common weedy grass, A. fatua, resembling the cultivated oat.
2. a hardy plant, Uvularia sessilifolia, of the lily family, of eastern North America, having deep green, hairy leaves and greenish-yellow, tubular flowers.

wild oat

noun

1. any of several temperate annual grasses of the genus Avena, esp A. fatua, that grow as weeds and have long bristles on their flower spikes

Word History and Origins

Origin of wild oat¹

First recorded in 1490–1500

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. sow one's wild oats, to have a youthful fling at reckless and indiscreet behavior, especially to be promiscuous before marriage.

Example Sentences

In the bad, late-'90s cable version of this story, Minda's sowing her wild oats but eventually realizes he's the one, and then they get married and have babies and whatever.

From Salon

There's a sexist myth that only men want to sow wild oats, but of course, women also have sexual fantasies.

From Salon

After we split, I took a couple of years to “sow my wild oats” and to find out who I am without him.

From Washington Post

In Season 2, Gwen has attempted to sow her wild oats as a D.J. in Bali, and she returns home with a fresh, if not always welcome, perspective.

From New York Times

Miles of rolling fields blanketed in faded wild oats and yellow starthistle line the gently curving roads into this isolated enclave an hour’s drive south of Redding.

From Los Angeles Times