see the light

1. Also, begin to see the light. Understand or begin to understand something; also, see the merit of another's explanation or decision. For example, Dean had been trying to explain that tax deduction for fifteen minutes when I finally saw the light, or Pat was furious she and her friends were not allowed to go hiking on their own in the mountains, but she began to see the light when a group got lost up there. This term, dating from the late 1600s, originally referred to religious conversion, the light meaning “true religion.” By the early 1800s it was used more broadly for any kind of understanding. Also see light at the end of a tunnel; see the light of day.

Example Sentences

Many would never even see the light of day.

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In other words, making those changes, even if temporary, paved the way for his two new ETFs to see the light of day, despite the government shutdown.

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The Louisiana Republican has already gone to great lengths to make sure FBI files chronicling the alleged misdeeds of Epstein and his associates never see the light of day.

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“From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day,” the company said.

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It could be a blessing that the government employment report hasn’t seen the light of day.

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Related Words

• ascertain 
• bring to light 
• determine 
• discover 
• dredge up 
• excavate 
• exhibit 
• exhume 
• expose 
• find 
• find out 
• reveal 
• uncover