open house

noun

1. a party or reception during which anyone who wishes may visit to share in a celebration, meet a special guest, etc.

2. a time during which a school, institution, etc., is open to the public for exhibition or for some specific occasion.

3. a house hospitably open to all friends who may wish to visit it.

open house

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): open day.  at-home. an occasion on which an institution, such as a school, is open for inspection by the public

2. to be always ready to provide hospitality

3. a house available for inspection by prospective buyers

Word History and Origins

Origin of open house¹

First recorded in 1520–30

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. keep open house, to be prepared to entertain visitors at any time.

   They keep open house for artists and writers.

Example Sentences

When she isn’t selling mansions, the “Selling Sunset” star enjoys getting takeout, spending time with G Flip and, yes, wandering into open houses for fun.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She attended a JPL open house, which she said felt like “Disneyland.”

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She grew up in Santa Ana during the post-World War II housing boom in the 1950s and told The Times in an interview that she loved going to open houses with her father.

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Next weekend, the players will disperse to rugby clubs around the country to sprinkle some stardust on RugbyFest, a nationwide "open house" designed to turn new followers of the game into regular players and volunteers.

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She also learned that the squirrel had also attacked a young girl and her aunt while they toured an open house on the same street.

Read more on Los Angeles Times