burn the midnight oil
To stay awake late at night to work or study: “Jill has been burning the midnight oil lately; I guess she has a big exam coming up.”
MORE ABOUT BURN THE MID NIGHT OIL
What does burn the midnight oil mean?
Burn the midnight oil is a phrase that means to stay up late at night to work, study, read, or perform some other activity, as in In order to finish this project on time we are going to have to burn the midnight oil tonight.
Burn the midnight oil is especially likely to refer to studying or working.
Example: Jack really needed to pass the test, so he burned the midnight oil last night.
Where does burn the midnight oil come from?
The first records of burn the midnight oil come from around 1635. At the time, oil lamps were commonplace and the expression refers to needing lamplight in order to see while reading or working late at night. Today, oil lamps aren’t generally the main source of light, so the expression is used figuratively.
Although it is not always the case, burn the midnight oil is often used when discussing tight deadlines or impending exams. Students in particular tend to hold off studying until the final moments. For this reason, burn the midnight oil is used to refer to the late-night cramming that students often do before important tests or to their tendency to hastily complete homework the night before it is due.
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How is burn the midnight oil used in real life?
Burn the midnight oil is used to mean a person is staying up late to do something. Usually, they are not happy about whatever it is they have to do.
Cramming for ur exam? The night before should be just glancing through. Don't burn the midnight oil. Have a good rest! Good luck!
— 🌺 MSU Malaysia (@MSUmalaysia) May 18, 2014
Bucs still grinding away on a deal with top guard Carl Nicks. Sounds like they will burn the midnight oil to get it done #freeagency
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 14, 2012
//I disappeared too. I wanted to get in the pillow fort. I feel like such a lightweight. All of Europe is burning the midnight oil and I'll be asleep soon. pic.twitter.com/Qt35S1o1Lc
— Elizabeth Wydville~RP (@EWydville) May 1, 2021
Try using burn the midnight oil!
True or False?
Burn the midnight oil refers to going to sleep early to be prepared for something the next morning.
How to use burn the midnight oil in a sentence
Other Idioms and Phrases with burn the midnight oil
Stay up late working or studying, as in The semester is almost over and we're all burning the midnight oil before exams. This expression alludes to the oil in oil lamps. [Early 1600s]