be wide open

1. Literally, to be completely open, as of a door or window. No wonder it's drafty in here—the window is wide open! Why is the front door wide open? You're letting bugs in! The window doesn't have to be wide open or anything, I'd just like to let a little fresh air in.

2. To have many possible outcomes or options available. With so many outstanding teams in the playoffs this year, the field is wide open. Now that you have your degree, the future's wide open to you! The world is wide open to a bright, driven fellow like Phil.

3. slang In sports, to be far away from defenders and available to easily receive a pass. Come one, pass it to me, I'm wide open! Didn't you see that your receiver was wide open? Even though I was wide open, my teammate didn't pass the puck and tried to take a shot instead. One of their defensemen deflected it away.

4. slang To be overrun with crime. Our city used to be wide open, until the new police commissioner started getting criminals off the streets. Hey, man, be careful—that part of town isn't exactly safe during the day, and it's totally wide open after the sun goes down. Why do you think people are leaving the city in droves, Mayor Smith? Because it's wide open and they don't want to be preyed upon by criminals!

be wide open

If a contest or competition is wide open, it is very difficult to say who will win because the competitors are all equally good. Both polls indicate that the election race is still wide open. The competition has been thrown wide open by the absence of the world champion.

be wide ˈopen

(of a competition, an election, etc.) with no obvious winner: The presidential election is wide open. OPPOSITE: a one-horse race