open mic

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A casual event where anyone in the audience can get on stage and perform, usually music, comedy, or poetry.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say an open mic or two open mics. Often used before another noun, as in an open mic night.

   Patterns

   • an open mic at a place
   • perform at an open mic
   • host an open mic

   Every Wednesday there is an open mic at the cafe near my apartment.

   She sang two songs at the open mic and got a big round of applause.

   The bar hosts an open mic for local musicians on Sunday evenings.

2. 2nouncountable

   The microphone itself that is available for anyone to use at such an event.

   Grammar: Countable; used when talking about the equipment rather than the event.

   Patterns

   • use the open mic
   • plug into the open mic
   • the open mic is free

   The open mic is set up in the corner, so just plug in your guitar.

   Is the open mic working? I can't hear anything through the speakers.

   They left the open mic on all night and the battery died.

Word forms

Common combinations

open mic night

The pub holds an open mic night every Thursday.

perform at an open mic

He performed at an open mic for the first time last month.

host an open mic

The community center hosts an open mic for local poets.

sign up for the open mic

You need to sign up for the open mic if you want to play.

attend an open mic

We attended an open mic and heard some really talented singers.

Synonyms and how they differ

open stage

Similar idea, but open stage can also mean a stage that is open to all performers, not just the microphone.

open mike

A common informal spelling of the same thing; it is not a different word.

Commonly confused: open mic or open mike?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “open mic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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