AI for Breakfast

Post 81 - It’s the weekend, Idiom of the Day

Burn the midnight oil

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Figurative Meaning

To "burn the midnight oil" means to work late into the night or until the early hours of the morning. This idiom is commonly used to describe someone staying up late working on a project, studying, or trying to meet a deadline, often sacrificing sleep to do so.

Typical Usage

This phrase is often used in contexts where someone is working hard, especially on tasks that require concentration and effort, such as studying for exams, completing work assignments, or finishing a project. For example, someone might say, "I have to burn the midnight oil tonight to get this report done by tomorrow."

Origin

The origin of "burn the midnight oil" dates back to a time before electric lighting, when people used oil lamps to light their homes and workplaces at night. Burning oil was literally necessary for anyone who needed to work or read after dark. The use of "midnight" emphasizes the late hours into which the person is working.

The earliest recorded use of the phrase in its current metaphorical sense dates back to the early 17th century. It's been suggested that the idiom was popularized or perhaps even originated from the work of English author Francis Quarles (1592–1644), who expressed the concept in his emblem book "Emblems" in 1635. However, the concept of working late into the night by lamp or candlelight is a practice much older than the phrase itself, reflecting the human commitment to diligence and effort before the conveniences of modern lighting.