The word broad, in the idiom ‘in broad daylight’ is used in a now archaic sense to mean fully or ‘to the full extent.’ Broad daylight refers to the main part of the day when there is plenty of natural sunlight and things are clearly visible and anyone can see what is happening. The term is most often used figuratively to refer to crimes or other corrupt actions being performed right out in the open so that anyone can witness it.
Meaning of Idiom ‘In Broad Daylight’
In broad daylight means right out in the open; not in secret; easy for anyone to see; done without any effort to hide it; no attempt to conceal. 1Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,2Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.
This idiom often refers to brazen crimes done with no attempt at subversion. If someone robs a house in broad daylight, they are doing it at a time when their actions are easy to see. Figuratively, the same phrase refers to crimes or other evil acts being done without any attempt to disguise or hide what is happening.
The term ‘broad daylight’ can be used alone to refer to the brightest part of the day. For example:
“Why are you using your headlights? It’s broad daylight.”
“It’s broad daylight and he’s still sleeping.”
Sentence Examples
“I can’t believe my sister was mugged in broad daylight right in front of her house.”
“I can’t believe they published their plans for everyone to see. They are doing all this in broad daylight!”
“He committs atrocities in broad daylight and nothing can be done about it.”
“The gun went off. I don’t know why.” “Well, look at this fucking mess, man! We’re on a city street in broad daylight.” — Pulp Fiction (1994)
“How do the two most wanted people in Washington kidnap a SHIELD officer in broad daylight?” — Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
“There’s no way that someone with the IQ of a ten-year-old could abduct two girls in broad daylight and then somehow make them disappear.” — Prisoners (2013)
“They all just watched as Kitty was being stabbed to death in broad daylight. They watched as her assailant walked away.” — The Boondock Saints (1999)
“…we do the unexpected. We go in Broad daylight. One man, hiding in plain sight.” — The Three Musketeers (2011)
“How could you be all respectful here with your lot when you’ve been kissing my daughter in broad daylight?!” — Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
“Now the top story from the LA News desk. Police Captain Andrew Bogomil was gunned down in broad daylight. He is alive but in critical condition.” — Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
Origin
The term broad daylight was preceded by the term ‘broad day.’ According to the OED 3“Broad, Adj. (1) & N. (1).” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, September 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/9280615924., this term appears in print as early as 1393:
Fulofte whanne it is brod day.4John Gower • The English works • (ed. George Campbell Macaulay) · EETS edition, 1900–1901 (2 vols.). (EETSES 81, 82).
The term broad is used in an older sense meaning ‘to the full extent,’ thus ‘the full extent of daylight.’
