a field day

a field day

The freedom or an opportunity to do a lot of something one wants. (Often, news outlets are said to be "having a field day" if they are criticizing someone.) The press is going to have a field day if this story gets out. Our team has been having a field day going over all the information the study produced.
See also: field
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.
See also: field
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • field day
  • field day, to have a
  • have a field day
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • revel
  • revel in
  • revel in (something)
References in periodicals archive
Spies who want to check out faraway military camps, say, should soon have a field day with the world's first private spy satellite camera.
SPY TECH