- Meaning
- This idiom describes thoroughly defeating or physically assaulting someone, as if knocking the ‘daylights’ (vitality or consciousness) out of them. It conveys intense aggression or dominance, often used in confrontational, competitive, or dramatic contexts to depict a decisive victory or attack. The phrase carries a tone of violence, hyperbole, or triumph, reflecting cultural values of strength and the human tendency to emphasize overwhelming success. Its vivid imagery evokes a brutal blow, resonating in scenarios like fights, sports, or verbal thrashings. The idiom emphasizes total domination, making it a forceful metaphor for crushing opposition.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in 19th-century America, tied to boxing slang where ‘daylights’ referred to eyes or consciousness, as noted in saloon brawls. Its earliest recorded use appears in *The Chicago Tribune* (1870s), describing a street fight. The idiom gained traction in the early 20th century, amplified by pulp fiction and sports journalism, notably in *The New York Times* for boxing matches. Its spread was boosted by Western films and slang, enduring in the U.S. for its colorful imagery and applicability to intense victories, with some use in the U.K. and Australia.
- Variants
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- Beat the daylights out of
- Knock the daylights out of
- Beat the living daylights out of
- Examples
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- He beat the daylights out of his opponent in the boxing ring.
- Knock the daylights out of that argument with solid evidence.
- Beat the living daylights out of the team, they did, winning 10-0.
- She’ll beat the daylights out of anyone who messes with her project.
- They beat the daylights out of the competition with their new product.
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