broad daylight
Meaning
In full daylight; openly and clearly visible (often implying brazen wrongdoing).
Origin
“Broad” once commonly meant “fully open, clear, plain.” So “in broad daylight” literally meant in full, clear daylight; it later became a set phrase often stressing how shamelessly open an act was.
Notes
Usually used as “in broad daylight.” Often adds emphasis that something (esp. a crime) happened openly/obviously, suggesting brazenness.
Examples
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Someone stole my bike in broad daylight right outside the café.
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It’s shocking that the robbery happened in broad daylight with people watching.
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Don’t leave your laptop in the car, even in broad daylight.
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The stray cat slipped through the open window in broad daylight and helped itself to the food.
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He felt safer walking home in broad daylight than after dark.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Most common in the prepositional phrase “in broad daylight.” Also as a noun phrase (“broad daylight”) after verbs like “happen/occur,” but “in” is typical.
Synonyms
- in daylight
- in full view
- in plain sight
- openly
Antonyms
- in the dead of night
- under cover of darkness
- at night