leave oneself wide open for

To make someone, something, or oneself vulnerable to something; to expose someone, something, or oneself to something. These terms of service leave us wide open for lawsuits under the new EU regulation, so we'll need to update them right away. The judge agreed that the defendant's use of social media during the trial left him open for additional scrutiny by the prosecution. I know I left myself wide open for scorn when I made my decision, but I stand by what I did.

Fig. to invite criticism or joking about oneself; to fail to protect oneself from criticism or ridicule. Yes, that was a harsh remark, Jane, but you left yourself wide open to it. I can't complain about your joke. I left myself wide open for it.