barn door

British  

noun

1. the door of a barn

2. informal a target so large that it cannot be missed

3. photog television theatre an adjustable flap over the front of a studio or theatre lamp

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

barn door

“The backstop becomes more important when the barn door is open,” said Matt Gardner, a senior fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a progressive group.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2025

But ultimately, “access to pasture” means just that—the barn door is open, says Kestrel Burcham, a policy director at the Cornucopia Institute, a nonprofit consumer watchdog group.

From National Geographic ● Feb. 16, 2024

“Old doors offer a lot of period character regardless of what era they’re from. While they’re often warped, barn door hardware can be used to create a slider for a pantry, a closet or mudroom.”

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 7, 2023

“It’s always better to have a lock on the barn door than to go chase the horse once it’s out,” he said in an interview.

From New York Times ● Dec. 15, 2022

One of the chickens flapped her wings, and as she did, the barn door slammed open.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

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