broad daylight en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /bɹɑd ˈdeɪˌlaɪt/ (cot-caught-merger)
- /bɹɔd ˈdeɪˌlaɪt/ (General-American)
- /bɹɔːd ˈdeɪlaɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From broad (“(archaic) to the full extent”) + daylight.
Meanings
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(uncountable) Abundant natural illumination in daytime, producing clear visibility; hence, daytime.
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.
1952 (date written), Max C[harles] Freedman, Jimmy De Knight [pseudonym; James Edward Myers], “(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:Broad daylight illumined the apartment, for the sun was high in heaven, though obscured by rolling masses of autumnal vapour.
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: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.
1911, Bram Stoker, “Exit Oolanga”, in The Lair of the White Worm, London: William Rider and Son, […], →OCLC, page 170: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.
1732, George Berkeley, “The Fourth Dialogue”, in Alciphron: Or, The Minute Philosopher. […], volume I, London: […] J[acob] Tonson […], →OCLC, section III, page 211:
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(figuratively, uncountable) Chiefly preceded by in: the full view of observers during the day.
The bank robbery took place in broad daylight.
'But surely,' protested Peter half-heartedly, 'he couldn't carry on a racket like that in broad daylight and get away with it?'
1934, Leslie Charteris, “The Uncritical Publisher”, in Ian Dickerson, editor, The Saint Intervenes, London: Mulholland Books, published 2013, →ISBN, page 125:It's still too dangerous for the wife of a journalist who was murdered in the street in broad daylight.
2008 January 24, Brian Benntt, “When Iraqis Come to America”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 16 Sep 2008:
Coordinates
Deriveds
Synonyms
Translations (13)
ja 白昼 (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · vi thanh thiên bạch nhật (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · cmn 大白天 (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · ta பட்டப்பகல் (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · fi kirkas päivänvalo (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · ja 真っ昼間 (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · cmn 青天白日 (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · dsb běły źeń (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · wuu 大白天亮 (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · ja 昼日中 (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · ja 真昼 (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · vi sáng bạch (abundant natural illumination in daytime) · mi maruawatea (abundant natural illumination in daytime)