[Grammar] No article - on opening night

[alioshka]

Hello,

I was wondering why in the following section (an excerpt from the latest episode of The Big Bang Theory series), there is no article in the phrase "on opening night". It is clear from the context, which opening night is concerned, so I would prefer to put "THE" in front of opening. Phonetically, it also sounds better to me with "the". Could you please explain the no-article usage?

It was a period of great tension. Our heroes, Leonard, Sheldon, Wolowitz and Koothrappali know that tickets to the Star Wars movie are about to be available for pre-sale. If they fail in their mission and can't see it on opening night Sheldon has sworn that they will never hear the end of it for the rest of their lives... They believe him.

Thanks!

 

[Tdol]

I would use the too.

 

[GoesStation]

** I am not a teacher.**

That's a good question. At least in the US, on opening night is a fixed phrase regarding performances. You would only use an article if you need more precision, as in on the opening night of the new Star Wars film.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I would not use the article there. "Opening night" is specific without help.

 

[Tdol]

I would not use the article there. "Opening night" is specific without help.

Maybe it's a difference between the variants- it sounds odd in British English (to me) without it.