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- leave open
leave open
leave something open
to leave a date or time unscheduled. I left something open on Friday, just in case we want to leave work early. Please leave an appointment open for Mrs. Wallace next week. She will be calling in to our office for an appointment.
leave something open
also leave open something to keep something available I've left the evening of the 12th open, just in case you want to go out to dinner. We still have plenty of alternatives left open to us.
Related vocabulary: leave open the possibility of something/doing somethingleave open
1. Keep undecided or unscheduled, as in We don't know how much fabric will be needed; let's leave that open, or The doctor leaves Fridays open for consultation. This expression uses open in the sense of "undetermined," a usage dating from the mid-1500s.
2. leave oneself open. Remain vulnerable to; also, remain willing to consider. For example,
Her actions left her open to widespread criticism, or
I left myself open to further suggestions about how to proceed. Also see under
lay open.