frighten the daylights out of

frighten the (living) daylights out of (someone)

To shock or frighten someone very suddenly and/or severely. Don't sneak up on me like that; you frightened the living daylights out of me!
See also: daylight, frighten, of, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

frighten (or scare) the (living) daylights out of

give someone a very severe fright.
This expression was a mid 20th-century development from beat the living daylights out of , on the premise that the effect of extreme fear is as drastic as physical violence.
1955 Frank Yerby The Treasure of Pleasant Valley Didn't mean to hit him…Meant to throw close to him and scare the living daylights out of him.
See also: daylight, frighten, of, out
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • frighten the (living) daylights out of (someone)
  • scare the (living) daylights out of (one)
  • scare the living daylights out of someone
  • frighten the life out of
  • frighten the life out of (one)
  • frighten the life out of someone
  • frighten/scare the life out of somebody
  • frighten the hell out of
  • frighten the hell out of (one)
  • frighten the pants off (of) (one)
References in periodicals archive
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He said of Cablelink's tactics: " The cable company seem to want to frighten the daylights out of people.
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