daylight broke

USAGE SUMMARY

"daylight broke" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a poetic way of saying that the sun rose or that it became daylight. Example: As the sun slowly crept above the horizon, the darkness of the night was replaced by the warm glow of the morning. Daylight had broken, painting the sky with shades of pink and orange.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

As daylight broke, the sludge kept rising and flooding the land where he raises vegetables.

The New York Times

A gun battle at the prison, which began Thursday night and lasted for hours, left 16 police officers dead and 102 prisoners, 47 of them linked to the Qaeda affiliate, on the loose as daylight broke Friday morning.

The New York Times

Nevertheless, the change of wind certainly saved the remainder of Salonika, and when daylight broke, though the fire had not stopped, and, indeed, continued to smoulder for days, the danger was over.

Independent

The gasometers were the backdrop to all kinds of seediness: the dealers, pimps and prostitutes who congregated around the station and along the side streets off York Way as well as the bands of dissolute revellers that straggled home as daylight broke.

The Guardian - Arts

As daylight broke, American sailors tossed buoyant flares into the water to mark the spot where Captain Don Walsh, a US Navy submariner, and Jacques Piccard, a Swiss engineer, would embark on their descent into "Challenger Deep", the name of the deepest fissure in the Pacific's Mariana trench.

The Guardian

After daylight broke – the sunrise obscured by fog – the mist began to burn off and the river revealed itself behind the trees.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"If we come out of the primary wounded, divided and broke, then it does give the Democrats some daylight," he acknowledged in an interview.

The New York Times

"Still daylight!

The New Yorker

"Broke what?" "Broke what breaks".

The New Yorker

"Broke Britannia!

The Economist

Feeling broke?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "daylight broke" to create a slightly poetic or dramatic effect, particularly when describing a scene or event after a period of darkness or uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "daylight broke" in highly formal or technical writing; opt for more straightforward language such as "the sun rose" or "morning arrived".

Linguistic Context

"Daylight broke" primarily functions as a descriptive phrase, often used to set a scene or indicate a transition from night to day. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage, with examples from various news and media sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "daylight broke" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, particularly in news and media. Ludwig AI indicates its usage is proper and effective for setting scenes and marking the beginning of a new day. While generally neutral in register, it's best used in descriptive contexts rather than highly formal or technical writing. Alternatives like "dawn arrived" or "the sun rose" may be more appropriate for specific contexts. Overall, "daylight broke" serves as a vivid and accessible way to depict the arrival of morning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dawn arrived

Replaces "broke" with a synonym indicating the arrival of the first light.

day dawned

Inverts the structure while maintaining the core meaning.

the sun rose

Focuses on the sun as the source of daylight.

morning came

Emphasizes the arrival of the morning period.

first light appeared

Highlights the initial appearance of light.

the night ended

Shifts the focus to the cessation of darkness.

the day began

Simply states the start of the day.

darkness lifted

Illustrates the disappearance of darkness to reveal light.

light emerged

Focuses on the appearance of light from darkness.

a new day started

Highlights the beginning of a new daily cycle.

FAQs

What does "daylight broke" mean?

The phrase "daylight broke" is a poetic way of saying that the sun rose or that it became daylight, signaling the start of a new day.

What can I say instead of "daylight broke"?

You can use alternatives like "dawn arrived", "the sun rose", or "morning came" depending on the context.

Is "daylight broke" grammatically correct?

Yes, "daylight broke" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both literature and journalism.

Is "daylight broke" a formal expression?

No, "daylight broke" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal expression, suitable for descriptive writing rather than highly formal or technical contexts.