Pitch dark

Definitions

• to describe a place or situation as extremely dark
  to emphasize that a place is so dark that nothing can be seen

• to emphasize the darkness of the night
  to describe a night as being very dark, with no visible light

Examples of Pitch dark

• As soon as the lights went out, the room was pitch dark.

  This idiom is used to describe a complete absence of light, making a space or area completely dark. "Pitch" refers to the black color, while "dark" emphasizes the lack of light.

• I got lost on the deserted street, and soon realized that it was pitch dark with no streetlights in sight.

  In this example, the phrase "pitch dark" is used to describe the complete darkness of an otherwise empty street.

• The tunnel was pitch dark, and I couldn't see a thing without my flashlight.

  Here, "pitch dark" is used to describe the darkness inside a tunnel, where there are no natural light sources to provide illumination.

• After the power outage, the city was pitch dark and eerily silent.

  This final example shows how the idiom can be used to convey a sense of foreboding or danger in a situation - in this case, a power outage has left the city completely and ominously dark.

• There was pitch dark silence in the room as the clock struck midnight.

  The room was completely silent with no sound whatsoever, just as a room would be during very late hours when the clock strikes midnight, making it nearly impossible to see anything due to the darkness, which is referred to as pitch dark.

• The castle was pitch dark except for a flickering candle in the distance.

  The castle was completely dark, except for the dim light of a single candle that could barely be seen from a distance, which is referred to as pitch dark.

• We drove through pitch dark countryside on our way to the countryside retreat.

  As we drove through the countryside, the darkness was so intense that we could barely see anything, making it pitch dark.

• The prison cell was pitch dark, except for the faint glow of the moonlight creeping through the barred windows.

  The cell was completely dark, except for the smallest amount of light that was able to filter through the bars on the windows due to the moonlight, which is referred to as pitch dark.

Conclusion

The idiom "pitch dark" is used to emphasize extreme darkness, either in a physical location or during the night. It is often used to vividly describe a place or time as being completely devoid of light, making it difficult to see or navigate.

Origin of "Pitch dark"

The origin of the idiom "pitch dark" can be traced back to the 14th century, where "pitch" referred to a thick, dark, sticky substance derived from tar or resin. This substance was often used to coat and waterproof wooden ships. The phrase "pitch dark" likely originated from the idea that this thick, black substance represented the extreme darkness that one might experience in certain situations.

Over time, the idiom became associated with the intense darkness of the night or of a physical location. It has since become a common phrase used to emphasize the complete absence of light, conveying the idea of utter darkness.