open season

See synonyms for open season on Thesaurus.com

noun

a specific season or time of year when it is legal to catch or hunt for fish or game protected at all other times by the law.
a period of time in which a person or thing is exposed to criticism, attack, or recrimination: Election year is open season on all incumbents.

Origin of open season

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Words Nearby open season

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use open season in a sentence

That program allows for similar choices during the open season except that it has far fewer carriers — five nationwide vision plans, seven national dental plans and five regional dental plans.
Federal employee health-care premiums to rise an average of 3.8 percent for 2022 | Eric Yoder | September 29, 2021 | Washington Post
This does not mean I am recommending open season and that your link building strategy should be entirely built on them.
Making the argument for nofollow links in SEO | Rob Delory | January 12, 2021 | Search Engine Watch
We know that the skies are open season for all manner of drone traffic, from missile launchers to beer droppers.
Meet Our Animal Robot Overlords | James Joiner | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
This public dustup signaled to Ahmadinejad's domestic opponents that it was open season on the president.
Iran Frees American Hikers | Babak Dehghanpisheh | September 21, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Everglades, overrun with huge reptiles, is about to host its first-ever open season on snakes.
How to Catch a Giant Python | Catharine Skipp | February 28, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST

Don't you know that the law is on moose and caribou, and that there won't be an open season for at least five more years?
The Ranger Boys and the Border Smugglers | Claude A. Labelle
Then there is the lure of the water, which explains more than half his school truancy during the open season.
The Minister and the Boy | Allan Hoben
When the open season comes along I will drop out here and get the antlers.
The Pony Rider Boys in New England | Frank Gee Patchin
So numerous were the pheasants at this time that on the first day of this open season about 50,000 were shot by the hunters.
Our Domestic Birds | John H. Robinson
He had been away on this distant work all the open season of 1889-90.
The Pacification of Burma | Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite

British Dictionary definitions for open season

open season

noun

a specified period of time in the year when it is legal to hunt or kill game or fish protected at other times by law
(often foll by on) a time when criticism or mistreatment is common: open season on women employees

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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