the daylights out of

adverb

Used as an intensifier between a verb and its object: thoroughly, with vigour, to an intense degree.

“It scared the daylights out of us!”

Similar
the living daylights out ofseven bells out ofseven hells out ofthe bejeebers out ofthe bejesus out ofthe crap out ofthe daylight out ofthe devil out of
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Meanings

adverbthe daylights out of (not comparable)

alternative the daylight out of

  1. informalnot comparableUsed as an intensifier between a verb and its object: thoroughly, with vigour, to an intense degree.

    It scared the daylights out of us!

    3 more examples

    Punching fast and furiously, I would beat the daylights out of them until they were bloody all over.

    1993, Lester Sumrall, The Life Story of Lester Sumrall, →ISBN

    The guy beat the daylights out of me, and I made a dollar. My wrestling license cost five dollars.

    2007, Greg Oliver, The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Heels, →ISBN, page 42

    Hi I am Kathryn Ann. I am a 47-year-old construction worker, I am married and have been for 28 years. I am also a cross dresser and have been as long as I can remember. I have never been out of the closet, but now the need to express myself is very strong! But scares the daylights out of me. I have lived the so called man's life and now I need to express my female side. But I have no idea where and how to do this safely, quietly and supportively, as I have no friends like myself in this matter.

    1999 March 29, Rachael, “Dear Rachael 3/99”, in TransGender Forum (offline archive), archived from the original on 25 Oct 2023

    Synonyms: the living daylights out of, seven bells out of, seven hells out of, the bejeebers out of, the bejesus out of, the crap out of, the daylight out of, the devil out of

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbUsed as an intensifier between a verb and its object: thoroughly, with vigour, to an intense degree.

Similar
the living daylights out ofseven bells out ofseven hells out ofthe bejeebers out ofthe bejesus out ofthe crap out ofthe daylight out ofthe devil out ofthe dickens out ofthe flying fuck out ofthe fuck out ofthe fuckola out ofthe heck out ofthe hell out ofthe life out ofthe living crap out ofthe living daylights out ofthe living shit out ofthe pantaloons off
Also see
seven bells out ofseven hells out ofthe bejeebers out ofthe bejesus out ofthe crap out ofthe dickens out ofthe flying fuck out ofthe fuckola out ofthe fuck out ofthe heck out ofthe hell out ofthe life out ofthe living daylights out ofthe living shit out ofthe piss out ofthe poop out ofthe shit out ofthe snot out ofthe stuffing out ofthe tar out of
Cite this entry
APA

the daylights out of. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20daylights%20out%20of

MLA

“the daylights out of.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20daylights%20out%20of. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the daylights out of,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20daylights%20out%20of.

Source: the daylights out of on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.