Idiom B2 Informal

Burn the candle at both ends

To exhaust yourself by doing too much; to be active very early and very late

Meaning

Burn the candle at both ends — To exhaust yourself by doing too much; to work or stay active very early in the morning and very late at night, leaving too little time for rest and risking burnout.

Origin & History

The phrase comes from an early 17th-century French expression, brusler la chandelle par les deux bouts, which was recorded in English by Randle Cotgrave in his 1611 French-English dictionary. In an age when candles were a precious and costly source of light, burning one at both ends at the same time would waste it twice as fast — so the original meaning was one of wastefulness and extravagance.

Over the following centuries the image shifted from wasting money or resources to wasting one's own energy. By modern times the idiom describes a person who exhausts themselves by being active late into the night and early in the morning — working, studying, or socialising too hard with too little rest.

Example Sentences

SentenceContext
She's been burning the candle at both ends to finish the project and barely sleeps.Overworking at the office
You can't keep burning the candle at both ends — your health will suffer.Friendly warning
Between his day job and night classes, he's burning the candle at both ends.Juggling work and study
During exam season, students often burn the candle at both ends.Academic pressure
After months of burning the candle at both ends, she finally took a holiday.Reaching breaking point
New parents tend to burn the candle at both ends in the first year.Family life

How to Use It

This idiom is informal and works well in everyday conversation, blogs, and journalism. It usually carries a note of concern or caution, implying that the overactivity is unsustainable. The structure is typically subject + be + burning the candle at both ends, often in the continuous form to stress an ongoing pattern. It frequently pairs with a warning, such as you'll burn out or your health will suffer.

Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

He's burning the candle on both ends.

He's burning the candle at both ends. — The fixed preposition is 'at', not 'on'.

They're burning candles at both ends.

They're burning the candle at both ends. — Keep a single candle with 'the'; do not pluralise.

She's burning the candle at the ends.

She's burning the candle at both ends. — The word 'both' is essential to the idiom.

Similar Idioms

Run yourself into the ground Spread yourself too thin Work your fingers to the bone Burn out All Idioms →

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Burn the candle at both ends" mean?
"Burn the candle at both ends" means to exhaust yourself by doing too much. It describes someone who works or stays active very early in the morning and very late at night, leaving too little time for rest and risking burnout.
Where does the idiom "Burn the candle at both ends" come from?
It comes from an early 17th-century French expression, recorded in English in Randle Cotgrave's 1611 French-English dictionary. Burning a precious candle at both ends wastes it twice as fast — originally a metaphor for wastefulness that later shifted to mean exhausting oneself through overactivity.
Can you give an example of "Burn the candle at both ends" in a sentence?
Here is an example: "She's been burning the candle at both ends to finish the project and barely sleeps." — used when someone overworks themselves to the point of exhaustion.
Is "Burn the candle at both ends" formal or informal?
It is informal. It is common in everyday conversation and informal writing, and you may see it in journalism, but it is too colloquial for formal academic writing.
What CEFR level is "Burn the candle at both ends"?
This idiom is typically taught at B2 level. It is an upper-intermediate expression that appears frequently in spoken English and informal writing.
What are common mistakes with "Burn the candle at both ends"?
A common mistake is changing the wording, such as saying 'burn the candle on both ends'. The fixed form is 'at both ends'. Another error is dropping 'both' or pluralising 'candles' — the idiom keeps a single candle.
What idioms are similar to "Burn the candle at both ends"?
Similar idioms include: Run yourself into the ground, Spread yourself too thin, Work your fingers to the bone, Burn out. These share the idea of overworking or exhausting yourself.
How do I practise idioms like "Burn the candle at both ends"?
LexFizz's Flash Cards and Flip Tiles exercises are great for practising English idioms. Try writing your own example sentences using the idiom in context, and listen for it in films, podcasts, and conversations.
Can "Burn the candle at both ends" be used in writing?
Yes, in informal writing, blogs, and journalism it is a natural and expressive choice. Avoid it in formal academic writing unless you are intentionally quoting or discussing the idiom itself.
Does "Burn the candle at both ends" have the same meaning in British and American English?
Yes, "Burn the candle at both ends" is understood in both British and American English with the same meaning: to exhaust yourself by doing too much. The idiom is widely recognised across all major varieties of English.