sow one's wild oats

== English == === Alternative forms === sow wild oats, sow one's oats === Etymology === From being a typical useless or counterproductive occupation (wild oats is a weed, and would not be sown). === Pronunciation === === Verb === sow one's wild oats (third-person singular simple present sows one's wild oats, present participle sowing one's wild oats, simple past sowed one's wild oats, past participle sown one's wild oats or sowed one's wild oats) (idiomatic) (figuratively, of a male) To spread one's genes around by impregnating many females. (by extension, of a male or female) To engage in premarital or extramarital flings. (by extension, of a male or female) To have numerous sexual partners. (by extension, often of young adults or the recently divorced) To indulge in a period of irresponsible behavior. ==== Related terms ==== feel one's oats get one's oats ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === “sow one’s (wild) oats”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. “sow your wild oats”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present. Michael Quinion (1996–2026), “Sow one's wild oats”, in World Wide Words. Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “oat”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.