field day

noun

1. a day devoted to outdoor sports or athletic contests, as at a school.
2. an outdoor gathering; outing; picnic.
3. a day for military exercises and display.
4. an occasion or opportunity for unrestricted activity, amusement, etc.:

   The children had a field day with their new skateboards.

field day

noun

1. a day spent in some special outdoor activity, such as nature study or sport
2. a day-long competition between amateur radio operators using battery or generator power, the aim being to make the most contacts with other operators around the world
3. military a day devoted to manoeuvres or exercises, esp before an audience
4. informal.
   a day or time of exciting or successful activity

   the children had a field day with their new toys

5. 1. a day or series of days devoted to the demonstration of farm machinery in country centres
   2. a combined open day and sale on a stud property

Word History and Origins

Origin of field day¹

First recorded in 1740–50

Idioms and Phrases

A time of great pleasure, activity, or opportunity, as in The press had a field day with this sensational murder trial . This colloquial expression, dating from the 1700s, originally referred to a day set aside for military maneuvers and exercises, and later was extended to a similar day for sports and games. Since the early 1800s it has been used more loosely.

Example Sentences

“Workers, loosely defined, are having a field day because it’s their market right now,” says Kerry Sulkowicz, a psychoanalyst who coaches chief executives.

From Time

Audio enthusiasts who care about nuanced differences in bass and treble levels—and want to change their EQ from track to track—could have a field day with these noise-canceling earbuds.

From Popular-Science

On-site field days will be held in the Vail area and the mountains east of Bellingham or Seattle, respectively.

From Outside Online

We were having a field-day, and my side of the battle was advancing in sections under shell-fire over fairly flat country.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a field-day for the women, for every shop had its strong temptation, and the world seemed on dress-parade.

From Project Gutenberg

To brigade the army was impossible, and every field-day was a scene of ludicrous confusion.

From Project Gutenberg

The only difficulty to our participating in such a field-day would be the expense for travelling to and fro.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, to accompany Gatacre on a field-day was a lesson in horsemanship.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anniversary
• commemoration
• competition
• fair
• feast
• gala
• holiday