daylight

[dey-lahyt] /ˈdeɪˌlaɪt/
noun
1.
the light of day:
At the end of the tunnel they could see daylight.
2.
public knowledge or awareness; openness:
The newspaper article brought the scandal out into the daylight.
3.
the period of day; daytime.
4.
daybreak; dawn.
5.
a clear space between any two parts that should be close together, as between the jambs of the opening of a doorway or the knees of a horseback rider and a saddle.
6.
daylights, mental soundness; consciousness; wits:
The noise scared the daylights out of us.
adjective
7.
Photography. of, pertaining to, or being film made for exposure by the natural light of day.
verb (used with object), daylighted or daylit, daylighting.
8.
to suffuse (an interior space) with artificial light or with daylight filtered through translucent materials, as roofing panels.
Idioms
9.
see daylight, to progress to a point where completion of a difficult task seems possible or probable.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English; see day, light1
Related forms
predaylight, noun
British Dictionary definitions for see daylight

daylight

/ˈdeɪˌlaɪt/
noun
1.
  1. light from the sun
  2. (as modifier): daylight film
2.
the period when it is light; daytime
3.
daybreak
4.
see daylight
  1. to understand something previously obscure
  2. to realize that the end of a difficult task is approaching
See also daylights
Word Origin and History for see daylight

daylight

n.

c.1300 (as two words from mid-12c., daies liht), from day + light (n.); its figurative sense of "clearly visible open space between two things" (1820) has been used in references to boats in a race, U.S. football running backs avoiding opposing tackles, a rider and a saddle, and the rim of a glass and the surface of the liquor. The (living) daylights that you beat out of someone were originally slang for "the eyes" (1752), extended figuratively to the vital senses.

Slang definitions & phrases for see daylight

daylight

noun

A clear and open space between two things, horses, players, boats, etc: Daylight began to open between the two leaders/ He went into the line, but couldn't find any daylight (1820+)

verb

To work at a second job during the day: who is daylighting in an ad agency as a producer of commercials (1970s+)

Related Terms

put daylight between

[verb sense based on moonlight]


Idioms and Phrases with see daylight

see daylight

see: begin to see daylight

daylight

In addition to the idiom beginning with
daylight
also see: