field day
noun
a day devoted to outdoor sports or athletic contests, as at a school.
an outdoor gathering; outing; picnic.
a day for military exercises and display.
an occasion or opportunity for unrestricted activity, amusement, etc.: The children had a field day with their new skateboards.
Origin of field day
First recorded in 1740–50
Words nearby field day
Example sentences from the Web for field day
British Dictionary definitions for field day
field day
noun
a day spent in some special outdoor activity, such as nature study or sport
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
military
a day devoted to manoeuvres or exercises, esp before an audience
informal
a day or time of exciting or successful activity
the children had a field day with their new toys
Australian
- a day or series of days devoted to the demonstration of farm machinery in country centres
- a combined open day and sale on a stud property
Idioms and Phrases with field day
field day
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.