The living daylights out of someone

[JPablo]

http://www.tomisimo.org/idioms/en/to...eone-3499.html

I know the meaning of this idiom and I have used it here and there... (well, look at my "signature"

Anybody knows the derivation of it?

How it came about?

Is the "daylights" originally referring to "your eyes"?

I understand "living" would be an intensifier, as in "the very"...

Any "light" that can be shed here will be greatly appreciated!

[Rusty]

Daylights used to be slang for 'the eyes'. This came to mean 'the vital senses' over time.

We say 'beat' or 'scare' the living daylights out of someone.
When we use 'beat', we are talking about severe damage (at least making someone unconscious).
When we use 'scare', we are talking about causing someone to at least be quite shocked, and hope they start screaming out of fear. Fainting would not be ruled out.

Usually, though, when we use these idioms we are just blowing smoke (not really intending to beat someone up or frighten them to such a degree that their lights go out).

[JPablo]

Thank you, Rusty!

We can always count on you to light our days!

[Rusty]