silly season

Meanings

1. A period, usually during the summertime, when news media tend to place increased emphasis on reporting light-hearted, offbeat, or bizarre stories.
2. A period of time, as during a holiday season or a political campaign, in which the behavior of an individual or group tends to become uncharacteristically frivolous, mirthful, or eccentric.
3. The early part of a competition’s offseason, where many roster and staff changes are made based on the outcome of the season just concluded.
4. The time of year when contract negotiations start, trades, and competitors change affiliations, frequently starting at mid-season or just before the start of free-agency, and extending to the start of the next season.

Etymology

Possibly from an article in the 13 July 1861 edition of the London weekly newspaper The Saturday Review (see quotation).