13

In the turn of phrase "scared the living daylights out of me" what does "living daylights" refer to? Where does this particular idiom originate?

Improve this question
3
  • Flag tag (obscure?)
    – yoozer8
    Jun 7, 2012 at 3:20
  • @Jim -- sorry should I have added another tag to my question?
    – Onorio Catenacci
    Jun 7, 2012 at 12:39
  • No that was a joke/obscure reference. Doesn't look like anyone knows what I was talking about...
    – yoozer8
    Jun 7, 2012 at 18:01

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
15

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the "living daylights" was once slang for "the eyes". By extension, it came to mean "the senses".

So "scared the living daylights out of me" means "scared the senses out of me".

Improve this answer
4
  • 1
    Thank you--was unaware of an Online Etymology Dictionary.
    – Onorio Catenacci
    Jun 7, 2012 at 0:11
  • I've found it very handy for just such questions, and they seem to a do respectable job there.
    – Mark Beadles
    Jun 7, 2012 at 0:12
  • 5
    There is also "beat the living daylights out of ..." where the "senses' meaning seems more appropriate than the "eyes" meaning.
    – Dilip Sarwate
    Jun 7, 2012 at 2:14
  • See also Michael Quinion's World Wide Words article on the "living daylights".
    – J W
    Oct 24, 2018 at 13:21
0

"Beat the living daylights out of ..." is likely to be derived (or as a corruption) from smithing's use of the cone mandrel, where "daylights" are seen (between the mandrel and the item to be beaten into a round shape) and instructions are to "beat the daylights out".

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    This would be improved with a supporting reference/link.
    – KillingTime
    Dec 24, 2019 at 8:45

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.