wide open

Open as far as possible, with nothing closing the space.

• The window is wide open.
• She stared with her mouth wide open.
• Who left the gate wide open?

Similar words: fully open

Opposites: closed

Common phrases: wide open door, eyes wide open

Not yet decided, with several different results still possible.

• The race is wide open.
• Yesterday’s result left the championship wide open.
• With three strong candidates, the election remains wide open.

Similar words: undecided, unsettled

Opposites: decided

Common phrases: wide open race, contest wide open

Without enough protection against harm, attack, or criticism.

• Their defense was wide open.
• These weak passwords leave you wide open to attack.
• His careless comments left him wide open to criticism.

How to use it: wide open to something (The mistake left us wide open to criticism.)

Similar words: vulnerable, exposed

Opposites: protected

Common phrases: wide open to criticism, leave someone wide open

With no opposing player close enough to stop a pass or shot.

• The striker was wide open.
• She found a wide open teammate near the basket.
• Why didn’t you pass when I was wide open?

Similar words: unmarked

Opposites: marked

Common phrases: wide open receiver, player wide open

With no effective rules or police control, so illegal activities happen freely.

• It was a wide open town.
• Gambling flourished in that wide open settlement.
• The new sheriff brought order to the wide open frontier town.

Similar words: lawless

Opposites: lawful

Common phrases: wide open town, wide open settlement

Having a large gap between buying and selling prices when trading begins.

• The market was wide open at the start.
• Few early orders left prices wide open.
• Dealers faced a wide open market, with bids far below offers.

Common phrases: wide open market, market wide open