open season
Americannoun
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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.
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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.
noun
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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
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(often foll by on) a time when criticism or mistreatment is common
open season on women employees
Etymology
Origin of open season
An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The real loser here is Intel, as it is now open season on all of its main product lines,” Windsor said, pointing to both its personal-computer and data-center chips.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026
The Council’s refusal to comment has made it open season on speculation and rumors.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025
"And in Australia at the moment - it's open season."
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2024
And it’s almost always open season on bicyclists in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2024
“I guess that makes them think it’s open season or something.”
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
