knock the living daylights out of
The phrase "knock the living daylights out of" is an idiomatic expression used to describe hitting someone very hard or defeating someone thoroughly.
Definition
C1Physical Confrontation
(informal)To hit someone with great force, causing significant pain or injury.
Example
- He threatened to knock the living daylights out of anyone who messed with him.
C1Competition
(informal)To defeat someone thoroughly in a competition or contest.
Example
- The team knocked the living daylights out of their opponents in the final match.
C1Emotional Reaction
(informal)To shock or startle someone to a great extent.
Example
- The sudden loud noise knocked the living daylights out of her.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "knock the living daylights out of":
beat the daylights out ofknock outbeat the stuffing out ofknock into a cocked hatbeat the shit out ofknock out of the boxsmack outknock downbeat the poop out ofknock overknock aboutlay a glove onkick someone's assknock backknock it offblow out of the watertake someone's head offhit one out of the ballparkblow someone's brains outbeat to a pulpknock upknock underchoke outbang outhit outknock inbang offbeat up onstrike a blowpunch outknock onblow the roof offeat someone alivebeat downbeat upwithin an inch of one's lifebash outsmack up