to leave the door open
13
3.6
- phrasal verb
:
dejar la puerta abierta
- After the meeting, she left the door open for new ideas and suggestions.
- leave the door open to possibility
- leave the door open for talks
- leave the door open for further
And, and it definitely leaves the door open.
- And, and it definitely leaves the door open.
- But one point that we don't agree with here is is just leaving the door open.
Examples
-
Nonetheless, this selection process does leave the door open for interpreters to argue for democracy.
Blog text (1) -
I will turn off the light and leave the door open.
Fiction book (1999) -
So that leaves the door open for you to do what you need to do.
-
Once we get outside, you leave the door open, okay?
-
You know, I think I left the door open.
-
You want to leave the door open?
-
I always leave the door open when I know you're coming.
-
Q Gene, it seems like you've left the door open for further cuts.
Blog text (29) -
Still, Kennedy's opinion left the door open for advocates to bring a targeted, as-applied challenge to the ban.
Academic text (2007) -
Lilly enters, very weary, puts her shoulder bag on one of the beds, goes back outside, and leaves the door open.
Fiction book (1990)
Synonyms
207
3.7
Make something available for people to use
54
3.1
Leave an option available for later use
53
3.2
Give someone new chances to succeed
21
3.9
To delay a final decision so you can choose later
15
4.2
To avoid choosing now so other choices remain
14
3.7
Keep something available while you delay a final decision
Antonyms
How Open
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally combines 'leave' + 'door' + 'open' so the image of keeping an entryway unclosed is directly available; this image is then used metaphorically to mean keeping opportunities available. The metaphorical extension is common and often inferable by learners who know the words but still relies on recognizing the figurative use, so it is not fully transparently compositional.
Etymology
Leave the door open comes from the simple picture of a door left open so someone can come back or enter later. So, it now means 'to allow for future opportunities' or 'not to rule something out completely'.