field day

English

Etymology

Apparently the idiom is derived from the military use. A parade is much easier than the soldiers’ usual drilling and forced exercise.

Noun

field day (plural field days)

1. (military) A parade day.
2. A school day for athletic events; a sports day.
3. A day of class taken away from school for a field trip.
4. (idiomatic) A great time or a great deal to do.

   They went to the park and had a field day playing on the swings.

5. (idiomatic) A great time or a great deal to do, at somebody else's expense.

   The reporters will have a field day with a comment like that.

   The scandal was a field day for the press.

6. (US Navy & US Marine Corps) Top-to-bottom all-hands cleaning.

Derived terms

• have a field day