verb phrase🎓 English idiom

burn the midnight oil

to work late into the night

What it means

To work or study late into the night, often for an extended period. It conveys staying up well past normal hours to finish something important.

Examples

  • She burned the midnight oil to finish the report before Monday.
  • We've been burning the midnight oil all week to meet the deadline.
  • He burned the midnight oil studying for his medical exams.
  • Don't burn the midnight oil too often, it's bad for your health.

Where it comes from

From the days before electric lighting, when working after dark meant burning oil in a lamp. The phrase dates to the 17th century, with an early version in Francis Quarles's writing in 1635.

Related idioms

#burn the candle at both ends#hit the books#go the extra mile#no pain, no gain

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