broad daylight

English

WOTD – 16 May 2024

Etymology

A woman in broad daylight (sense 1).

From broad ((archaic) to the full extent) + daylight.[1]

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /bɹɔːd ˈdeɪlaɪt/
  • (file)
  • (General American) IPA(key): /bɹɔd ˈdeɪˌlaɪt/
  • (cotcaught merger) IPA(key): /bɹɑd ˈdeɪˌlaɪt/
  • Hyphenation: broad day‧light

Noun

broad daylight (uncountable)

  1. Abundant natural illumination in daytime, producing clear visibility; hence, daytime.
    Synonym: open daylight
    • 1732, George Berkeley, “The Fourth Dialogue”, in Alciphron: Or, The Minute Philosopher. [], volume I, London: [] J[acob] Tonson [], →OCLC, section III, page 211:
      VVhen half a dozen ingenous Men are got together over a Glaſs of VVine, by a chearful Fire, in a Room vvell lighted, vve baniſh vvith eaſe all the Spectres of Fancy or Education, and are very clear in our Deciſions. But, as I vvas taking a ſolitary VValk before it vvas broad Day-light in yonder Grove, methought the Point vvas not quite ſo clear; nor cou'd I readily recollect the Force of thoſe Arguments, vvhich uſed to appear ſo concluſive at other Times.
    • 1848, Acton Bell [pseudonym; Anne Brontë], “The Retreat”, in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. [], volume III, London: T[homas] C[autley] Newby, [], →OCLC, page 121:
      Broad daylight illumined the apartment, for the sun was high in heaven, though obscured by rolling masses of autumnal vapour.
    • 1911, Bram Stoker, “Exit Oolanga”, in The Lair of the White Worm, London: William Rider and Son, [], →OCLC, page 170:
      Whilst they had been speaking, she had opened the door, a narrow iron one well hung, for it had opened easily and closed tightly without any creaking or sound of any kind. Within all was dark; but she entered as freely and with as little misgiving or restraint as if it had been broad daylight.
    • 1952 (date written), Max C[harles] Freedman, Jimmy De Knight [pseudonym; James Edward Myers] (lyrics and music), “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock”, performed by Bill Haley & His Comets, Philadelphia, Pa.: Myers Music, published 1953, recording released 20 May 1954, →OCLC, page 2:
      We're gonna rock around the clock tonight, / We're gonna rock, rock, rock, 'til broad daylight, / We're gonna rock, gonna rock around the clock tonight.
  2. (figurative) Chiefly preceded by in: the full view of observers during the day.
    The bank robbery took place in broad daylight.

Usage notes

Sense 2 (“full view of observers during the day”) is usually used to describe an event that unexpectedly takes place openly in front of observers.

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. in broad daylight” under broad, adj.1 and n.1”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, December 2023; in broad daylight, phrase”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Further reading

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