field

be out in left field

1. to be completely wrong. They're out in left field, blaming you for this fiasco.

2. to be very strange or very different from other people or things. She's kind of out in left field but she's fun.

See also: left

have a field day

to have an opportunity to do a lot of something you want to do, especially to criticize someone. The newspapers would have a field day if their affair ever became public knowledge.

See also: day

lead the field

1. if you lead the field in a race or a sports event, you are better than all the people competing against you and are likely to win. At the end of the second day's play, Ballasteros is leading the field.

2. if you lead the field in an activity or business, you are more successful than anyone else. There are some areas of medical research where Russian scientists still lead the field.

See also: lead

leave the field clear for someone

to stop competing with someone, which gives them a better chance of achieving success. John decided not to apply for the job, which left the field clear for Emma.

See also: clear, leave

a level playing field

a fair situation. There are calls for less restrictive laws in order to allow them to compete on a level playing field (= in a way that is fair) with other financial institutions.

See also: level, play

play the field

to have many romantic or sexual relationships. She's not interested in marriage at this stage, so she's quite happy to play the field.

See also: play

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have a field day

to be able to do something you enjoy a great deal, esp. criticizing someone. The newspapers would have a field day if his drinking was ever widely known.

See also: day

level the playing field

to give everyone the same advantages or opportunities. It was an effort to level the playing field and achieve greater equality between the sexes. Government funding can level the playing field for political candidates without money.

have a fighting chance

Etymology: based on a comparison with a sports competition played on a field that is not level, putting one side at a disadvantage

See also: level, play

(way) out in left field

not effective, useful, or likely. Some of these ideas are from out in left field, and I can't imagine where my students get them from.

See also: left

out of left field

not expected or prepared for. A fierce storm came out of left field and surprised everyone.

See also: left

play the field

to have many romantic or sexual relationships. After leaving that guy she lived with for five years she's now ready to play the field.

See also: play