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Burn the Midnight Oil

What Does "Burn the Midnight Oil" Mean?

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"Burn the midnight oil" is an English idiom. It means "to stay up late working or studying."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "burn the midnight oil" used in a sentence:
  • I've been burning the midnight oil trying to finish this project on time.
  • She burned the midnight oil for weeks before the exam.
  • There's a big deadline approaching, so I'll need to burn the midnight oil.
meaning for burn the midnight oil

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Burn the Midnight Oil" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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