scare the living daylights out of
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.
Equivalents & related
Near equivalent
gạn đục khơi trong
separate the wheat from the chaff
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
separate the wheat from the chaff
To distinguish valuable or useful things from worthless ones
English · via gạn đục khơi trong
Near equivalent
big and small
Everyone or everything, regardless of size or importance
English · via gạn đục khơi trong
Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.
Common questions
What does “scare the living daylights out of” mean?
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
Is “scare the living daylights out of” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
What is the closest equivalent?
“gạn đục khơi trong” (Tiếng Việt) — near equivalent.