daylights

day·light  (dlt)

n.

1. The light of day; sunlight.

2.

a. Daybreak.

b. Daytime.

3. Exposure to public notice: corrupt business practices that were finally brought into the daylight.

4. Understanding or insight into what was formerly obscure: new evidence that gave the researchers some daylight into the matter.

5. Sports An opening, as between defensive players, especially one providing an opportunity for action: The running back found some daylight and gained six yards.

6. daylights Slang One's wits: "His adventurism had scared the daylights out of them" (Frederick Forsyth).

Idiom:

see daylight

To make sufficient progress so that completion of a project seems possible.

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daylights

Noun, pl

Informal

1. beat the living daylights out of someone to beat someone soundly

2. scare the living daylights out of someone to frighten someone greatly