Burn the Midnight Oil: Meaning, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：work late (Burn the Midnight Oil)

Burn the Midnight Oil 🔊

/bɜːrn ðə ˈmɪdnaɪt ɔɪl/

phrase

To work or study until very late at night.

Burn the midnight oil late night study desk with lamp

work late 🔊

➕

/wɜːrk leɪt/

phrase

To work or study deep into the night, typically using artificial light, implying dedication or urgency.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

"Burn" + "midnight" + "oil". Literally: use oil in a lamp at night; figuratively: work late.

💡 Mnemonic

Visualize a burning oil lamp at midnight – it means working late into the night.

📖 Example

I know he's burning the midnight oil because his light is still on at 2 a.m., and his IELTS exam is next week. 🔊 I know he's burning the midnight oil because his light is still on at 2 a.m., and his IELTS exam is next week.

🔗 Collocations

burn the midnight oil for exams – study very late for exams

burn the midnight oil on a project – work late on a project

burn the midnight oil to meet deadlines – work late to meet deadlines

🔄 Synonyms

stay up late (phrase) – To not go to bed at the usual time, often to work or study.

pull an all-nighter (phrase) – To stay awake all night to work or study.

work late (phrase) – To continue working beyond normal hours.

🚫 Antonyms

go to bed early (phrase) – To go to sleep at an earlier time than usual.

call it a night early (phrase) – To stop working or activities early in the evening.

get a good night's sleep (phrase) – To sleep well for a full night.

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from the pre-electric era when oil lamps were used for light. The phrase became common in the 19th century, notably used by writer Oliver Wendell Holmes.