Quick answer: “Burn the Midnight Oil” means to work or study late into the night.
Burn the midnight oil — to work or study very late into the night, especially when under pressure or trying to meet a deadline.
Origin & History
The idiom dates from the era before electric lighting, when people literally burned oil lamps to work after dark. The phrase appears as early as 1635 in Francis Quarles's Emblemes: "We spend our midday sweat, our midnight oil." It became widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries and remains common today.
The image of oil burning late at night conveys dedication and hard work — someone willing to sacrifice sleep to complete a task. Idioms like this are the kind of expression documented in general reference works such as the Cambridge Dictionary, which record how figurative meanings develop in everyday English.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| She burned the midnight oil to finish her dissertation. | Academic deadline |
| The development team burned the midnight oil to launch the app on time. | Tech project deadline |
| He's been burning the midnight oil all week preparing for his exams. | Student studying |
| We burned the midnight oil and finally submitted the report by dawn. | Work project |
| You look tired — were you burning the midnight oil again? | Friendly observation |
Use It in Conversation
Dialogue Example
James: You look exhausted. Are you okay?
Priya: I've been burning the midnight oil all week. My final exams start on Monday.
James: Make sure you get some rest this weekend too — you can't study well if you're overtired.
How to Use It
The idiom is commonly used in the present perfect continuous ("I've been burning the midnight oil") or simple past ("she burned the midnight oil"). It can also be used in the present: "He burns the midnight oil regularly." It pairs well with time phrases like "all week", "to finish", or "for the deadline".
Common Mistakes
Mistakes to Avoid
She burned midnight oil to finish her essay.
She burned the midnight oil to finish her essay. — Always include 'the'.
He burned the midnight oils.
He burned the midnight oil. — 'Oil' is uncountable here; no plural 's'.
Similar Idioms
Practise This Idiom
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Quick Check: Burn the Midnight Oil
1 question — test what you just learned.
1. What does “Burn the Midnight Oil” mean?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "burn the midnight oil" mean?
"Burn the midnight oil" means to work or study very late into the night, often to meet a deadline or complete something important.
Where does "burn the midnight oil" come from?
The idiom dates from the pre-electric era when people used oil lamps to work after dark. It appears as early as 1635 in Francis Quarles's Emblemes and became a common expression throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Can you give an example of "burn the midnight oil" in a sentence?
Example: "She burned the midnight oil to finish her dissertation." It describes someone working hard very late at night.
Is "burn the midnight oil" formal or informal?
It is neutral to informal. It is appropriate in everyday conversation and semi-formal writing such as blog posts and work emails.
What CEFR level is "burn the midnight oil"?
This idiom is typically taught at B2 (Upper-Intermediate) level and is common in academic and professional contexts.
What are common mistakes with "burn the midnight oil"?
A common mistake is omitting "the": say "burn the midnight oil", not "burn midnight oil". Also, "oil" is uncountable here — never say "oils".
What idioms are similar to "burn the midnight oil"?
Similar idioms include: "work around the clock" (work continuously), "pull an all-nighter" (stay up all night), and "hit the books" (study hard).
Can "burn the midnight oil" be used in professional writing?
Yes, it is suitable in semi-formal writing. For example: "The team burned the midnight oil to deliver the project on time."
How do I practise idioms like "burn the midnight oil"?
Use LexFizz's Flash Cards and Flip Tiles exercises. Try writing sentences about times you have worked late and listen for the idiom in podcasts and interviews.
Does "burn the midnight oil" mean the same in British and American English?
Yes. The idiom has the same meaning in both British and American English: to work or study late into the night.