in broad daylight

USAGE SUMMARY

"in broad daylight" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something happened during the day, usually between the times of sunrise and sunset. For example, "The robbers attempted the heist in broad daylight!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In broad daylight.

The New York Times

This happened in broad daylight".

Independent

A badger in broad daylight?

Independent

Even in broad daylight".

The New York Times

But in broad daylight?

The Guardian - Sport

Owls hooted in broad daylight.

The New York Times - Magazine

His own mother, and in broad daylight.

The New Yorker

A lighting ceremony in broad daylight?

The New York Times

(Gunfire. Shootout, in cold blood, in broad daylight).

The New Yorker

Many of the videos were set in broad daylight.

The New York Times

He has encountered 40-strong groups walking in broad daylight.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in broad daylight" to emphasize the boldness or unexpected nature of an action, especially when it occurs publicly and openly.

Common error

Avoid using "in broad daylight" when simply stating that something happened during the day. The phrase carries an implication of audacity or surprise, not just a temporal indication.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrase. "In broad daylight" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the time and circumstances of an action. As noted by Ludwig, it emphasizes that something happens during the day.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Wiki

2%

HuffPost

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in broad daylight" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to emphasize that an event occurred openly and visibly during the day. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to highlight the surprising or audacious nature of an action. Predominantly found in News & Media, this phrase suggests brazenness or unexpectedness due to the lack of concealment. While there are several alternatives like "during daylight hours" or "in full view", "in broad daylight" carries a unique connotation of boldness. Therefore, using this phrase appropriately means understanding its implied significance beyond simply stating the time of day.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in broad sunlight

It's a very close synonym, changing "daylight" to "sunlight" with little semantic difference.

during the daytime

This phrase is a direct synonym, emphasizing the time of day without the added connotation of boldness or surprise.

in the light of day

This alternative emphasizes the visibility of an event, similar to "in broad daylight", but it focuses on the presence of light rather than the time of day.

during daylight hours

This phrase specifies the time frame more precisely, focusing on the period when daylight is present, unlike the emphasis on brazenness in "in broad daylight".

in the middle of the day

This alternative specifies the time of day more precisely, focusing on the midday period, which is different from "in broad daylight" broader timeframe.

in full view

This alternative highlights the open and public nature of an event, similar to the brazen aspect of "in broad daylight", but without specifying the time of day.

while the sun was up

This alternative is an informal way to indicate the event occurred during the day, similar in meaning but different in tone to "in broad daylight".

out in the open

This phrase emphasizes the lack of secrecy, much like the brazenness implied by "in broad daylight", but it doesn't necessarily mean during the day.

under the sun

This alternative is a more figurative way to express something happening publicly, sharing the visibility aspect of "in broad daylight" but less specific about timing.

in plain sight

Similar to "in full view", this alternative focuses on the visibility of an action, omitting the daytime element of "in broad daylight".

FAQs

How is "in broad daylight" used in a sentence?

Use "in broad daylight" to highlight the surprising or audacious nature of an event occurring during the daytime, like "The robbery happened "in broad daylight", shocking everyone."

What does "in broad daylight" imply?

The phrase "in broad daylight" suggests that an event occurred openly and visibly during the day, often implying a sense of boldness, brazenness, or unexpectedness due to the lack of concealment.

What are some alternatives to "in broad daylight"?

Alternatives include "during daylight hours", "in the light of day", or "in full view" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "in broad daylight sun"?

Yes, saying "in broad daylight sun" is redundant. "In broad daylight" already implies the presence of the sun or ample natural illumination, so adding "sun" is unnecessary.