wild oat
• noun
Youthful indiscretions, promiscuity, or reckless and irresponsible behavior before settling down into a mature lifestyle (usually used in the plural phrase 'to sow one's wild oats').
"After spending his twenties traveling and sowing his wild oats, he finally decided to pursue a steady career."
Any of several uncultivated annual grasses of the genus Avena (especially Avena fatua, family Poaceae), native to Eurasia and widely naturalized, often considered agricultural weeds in cereal crops.
"Farmers must carefully manage fields to prevent the invasive wild oat from choking out wheat crops."
North American Any of several woodland perennial flowering plants of the genus Uvularia (family Colchicaceae) native to eastern North America, bearing drooping, bell-shaped pale yellow blossoms in spring, or an ornamental grass (Chasmanthium latifolium) prized for its flat, drooping green-to-bronze flower spikelets.
"Along the shaded forest trail, the delicate yellow blossoms of the wild oat nodded gently in the spring breeze."
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