wild oats

plural noun

1. slang,  the indiscretions of youth, esp dissoluteness before settling down (esp in the phrase sow one's wild oats )

Idioms and Phrases

see sow one's wild oats.

Example Sentences

“In a way, she is sowing her wild oats,” Tom says.

From Los Angeles Times

When the ne’er-do-well scion of a Russian oligarch sows his wild oats a little too enthusiastically with New York stripper Ani, some serious people are summoned.

From Los Angeles Times

In the bad, late-'90s cable version of this story, Minda's sowing her wild oats but eventually realizes he's the one, and then they get married and have babies and whatever.

From Salon

There's a sexist myth that only men want to sow wild oats, but of course, women also have sexual fantasies.

From Salon

After we split, I took a couple of years to “sow my wild oats” and to find out who I am without him.

From Washington Post