Definition of 'to beat or knock the living daylights out of someone' to beat or knock the living daylights out of someone If you knock the living daylights out of someone, or beat the living daylights out of them, you hit them very hard many times. —— What is the origin of the idiom "beat the daylights out of someone" and when to use it? The idiom "beat the daylights out of someone" is typically used in the context of physical violence, where one person is assaulting another. It does not necessarily connote victory or defeat in a broader sense, but rather the act of inflicting physical harm. However, in some contexts, the phrase can be used metaphorically to connote a one-sided victory or defeat in a competition or conflict. The idiom "beat the daylights out of someone" is an informal expression originating in the early 20th century. It is used metaphorically to describe a severe beating or thrashing that causes someone to lose consciousness or become severely injured.