leave the door open

Idioms

Allow for further action or discussion. For example, This will's terms leave the door open for fighting among the heirs. This metaphoric expression transfers the invitation implied by an open door to future events. Also see open the door to.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It’ll have a top on it and a door with a snap latch. We’ll put those coconuts right in the center of the pen and leave the door open. Then we’ll tie the binder twine to the door and run it back through the pen and out into the brush a little way. When those monkeys go into the pen after those coconuts, we’ll pull the binder twine and latch the door. What do you think of that idea?”

From Literature

But he did leave the door open for business being done.

From BBC

"I keep the back door locked at all times," she said, adding she keeps the key out of the way of her children because she's "petrified" they'll leave the door open.

From BBC

The pair released their “An Evening With Silk Sonic” album in 2021 and gained further popularity with songs such as the Grammy-winning “Leave the Door Open” and “Skate.”

From Los Angeles Times

Roberts did leave the door open to potentially moving Hernández back to left field, where he spent the majority of 2024 for the Dodgers before shifting over to his more natural right field position last year.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023