The common saying "beats the living daylights out of" has an interesting spelling. The phonetic transcription in IPA would be /bɪts ði ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈdeɪlaɪts aʊt əv/. The word "beats" is spelled as it sounds, while "living" is pronounced as "liv-ing" with a clear "i" sound. "Daylights" is pronounced with a clear long "a" sound, like "day" and "lights" pronounced separately. The word "out" is often pronounced with a glottal stop, similar to the sound in the middle of "uh-oh."
"Beats the living daylights out of" is an idiomatic phrase used to convey a sense of extreme superiority, overwhelming defeat, or absolute success. It is often employed in informal contexts, especially in spoken language, to emphasize a significant degree of superiority or domination over someone or something. This expression is typically used when describing beating someone or something both physically and metaphorically, as if to imply an utter annihilation or thoroughly surpassing another individual or situation.
The term derives from the figurative notion of forcefully striking an opponent or adversary so vigorously and relentlessly that it causes their "daylights" or life essence to be figuratively beaten out of them. The intensifying phrase "the living" is added for emphasis, emphasizing that the beating is particularly severe and effective.
Furthermore, this phrase can be used metaphorically to describe how one's actions, decisions, or achievements surpass those of others. It implies a sense of overwhelming victory or accomplishment, suggesting that an individual or situation is so much more impressive, powerful, or effective than others that it significantly outshines or outperforms them.
Overall, "beats the living daylights out of" is an idiomatic expression used to emphasize an extreme level of superiority, domination, or success, often drawing upon images of overpowering physical force or exceptional achievement.