wide open
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wide open
1. Literally, completely open, as of a door or window. No wonder it's drafty in here—the window is wide open!
2. Having many possible outcomes or options available. With so many outstanding teams in the playoffs this year, the field is wide open. Now that you have your degree, the future's wide open to you!
3. slang In sports, far away from defenders and available to easily receive a pass. Come on, pass it to me, I'm wide open! Didn't you see that your receiver was wide open?
4. Going very fast; at full speed. We were wide open, man, and he passed us like we were parked. He must have been doing 120!
5. Extremely vulnerable to something. Not having a disclaimer leaves you wide open to lawsuits. The military officials knew that pulling out would leave the country wide open to civil war.
6. slang To be overrun with crime. Our city used to be wide open, until the new police commissioner started getting criminals off the streets.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
wide open
1. as fast as possible; at full throttle. I was driving along wide open when I became aware of a flashing red light. It was wide open and still wouldn't do better than eighty. 2. [of a town or place] full of crime or corruption; vice-ridden. This town is wide open! Because the prison is understaffed, it is wide open.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
wide open
1. Unresolved, unsettled, as in The fate of that former colony is still wide open. [Mid-1900s]
2. Unprotected or vulnerable, as in That remark about immigrants left him wide open to hostile criticism. This expression originated in boxing, where it signifies being off one's guard and open to an opponent's punches. It began to be used more broadly about 1940. Also see leave open.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
(lay/leave yourself) wide ˈopen (to something)
(put yourself) in a situation where you can easily be criticized, blamed, attacked, etc: By not saying anything in your defence, you’re leaving yourself wide open to their accusations. ♢ The soldiers were wide open to attack. OPPOSITE: cover your backFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
wide
mod. drug intoxicated. How’d you get so wide, man? What are you on?
wide open
1. mod. as fast as possible; at full throttle. I was driving along wide open when I became aware of a flashing red light.
2. mod. vice-ridden. This town is wide open!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.