| 1. | a day devoted to outdoor sports or athletic contests, as at a school. |
| 2. | an outdoor gathering; outing; picnic. |
| 3. | a day for military exercises and display. |
| 4. | an occasion or opportunity for unrestricted activity, amusement, etc.: The children had a field day with their new skateboards. |
| field day n.
|
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.