open season

noun

1

: a period when it is legal to kill or catch game or fish protected at other times by law

2

: a time during which someone or something is the object of sustained attack or criticism

It seems it's open season on your congressperson.

Examples of open season in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During the open seasons, each state will use bag limits, aggregate limits and size limits for all recreational anglers in state and federal waters. —Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026

Mythos reportedly is capable of autonomously identifying and weaponizing undiscovered cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and would mean open season for cybercriminals without appropriate guardrails. —Robert F. Dees, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026

March and July are open seasons, meaning grunion may be taken by hand, but anyone older than 16 will need a fishing license. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 4 Mar. 2026

The Earthquakes will open season No. 2 under head coach Bruce Arena with a hungry cast and some depth concerns on the attack. —Matt Schwab, Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for open season

• milesian
• partizan
• postseason
• preseason
• unreason
• reason
• seizin
• treason

Kids Definition

open season

noun

: a time when it is legal to hunt game or catch fish that are legally protected at other times