The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word PUBLIC
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
P
U
B
L
I
C
More clues leading to the result PUBLIC
- Host forgetting a name gets exposed
- Left in charge after bar’s open
- Notorious bar, mostly clean
- General coming from local, left in charge
- Open local with student in charge
- Sort of house, nothing secret when in it
- Back up writer embracing student out in the open
- Open vessel heading north around Baltic, regularly
- Known leaders in baseball league, one entering competition after an upset
- No end of bile Puck produced in 19
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "out in the open" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case out in the open = public.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PUBLIC mean?
PUBLIC noun- The people in general, regardless of membership of any particular group.
- A public house; an inn.
- Able to be seen or known by everyone; open to general view, happening without concealment.
- Pertaining to the people as a whole (as opposed to a private group); concerning the whole country, community etc.
- Officially representing the community; carried out or funded by the state on behalf of the community.
- Open to all members of a community; especially, provided by national or local authorities and supported by money from taxes.
- (of a company) Traded publicly via a stock market.
- Accessible to the program in general, not only to the class or any subclasses.