leave open
Idioms-
Keep undecided or unscheduled, as in We don't know how much fabric will be needed; let's leave that open , or The doctor leaves Fridays open for consultation . This expression uses open in the sense of “undetermined,” a usage dating from the mid-1500s.
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leave oneself open . Remain vulnerable to; also, remain willing to consider. For example, Her actions left her open to widespread criticism , or I left myself open to further suggestions about how to proceed . Also see under lay open .
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 Burglar: Bots have proven very good at finding login credentials, which sometimes people inadvertently leave open on the internet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
“Courts cannot enjoin implementation of Executive Orders that leave open material issues that still need to be resolved by agencies,” he wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Her appointment would leave open the 21st Congressional District seat in New York, which would lead to a special election.
From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2024
Ballerina Farm opts out of all that because its creators can afford to, even as they leave open the question of whether this life is truly what its namesake creator wants.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2024
This is not unusual, but it did leave open to later dispute such ambiguous clauses as “adequate safety devices are to be provided.”
From Elevator Systems of the Eiffel Tower, 1889 by Robert M. Vogel
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.
