Broad daylight
Meaning
Full visibility during the daytime, often used to emphasize that something surprising or illicit occurred openly and without concealment.
Origin
The phrase 'broad daylight' hinges on the word 'broad,' which for centuries has described something extensive, wide, or complete, much like 'broad awake.' In a world where clandestine activities were traditionally relegated to the shadows of night, the concept of actions occurring 'in broad daylight' emerged to highlight an audacious defiance of concealment. The phrase crystallized into its idiomatic form by the 17th century, serving as a vivid descriptor for acts—often surprising or illicit—committed openly and without shame, under the full, unsparing gaze of the sun, making any pretense of secrecy utterly impossible. It paints a picture of stark visibility, emphasizing a brazen openness.
Examples
- The thief brazenly stole the antique necklace from the display window in broad daylight, astonishing passersby.
- Despite being in broad daylight, the dense fog made it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead of the car.