in the field—
1. in an area of grassland for cattle or arable land for crops:
- Hundreds of combines will be in the fields by Wednesday.
2. in an outdoor athletic or sports area:
- Each player in the field follows the progress of the game and constantly tracks the movement of his eight teammates.
3. (Military) at the scene of combat:
- They needed a more effective way of using military forces in the field.
4. in the area of a particular subject:
- The purpose of this scholarship is to promote excellence in the field of music by offering incentives to talented students.
5. away from base or outside of laboratories:
- A number of the projects involve a combination of laboratory investigations with work carried out in the field.
on the field—
1. = in the field 1:
- Last year nothing grew on the field where it [pesticide] had been applied but rattle-weed.
2. = in the field 2:
- I am fortunate to say that my team is rare. We are brimming with excitement, which can be felt on the field and in our houses at night.
3. = in the field 3:
- This is not an intelligence failure but a severe operational failure. There is a lack of cooperation between the forces on the field.