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- burn the midnight oil
burn the midnight oil
burn the midnight oil
Fig. to stay up working, especially studying, late at night. (Alludes to working by the light of an oil lamp late in the night.) I have a big exam tomorrow so I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight. If you burn the midnight oil night after night, you'll probably become ill.
burn the midnight oil
to work very late into the night I've got to get this report finished by tomorrow so I guess I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight.
burn the midnight oil
Stay up late working or studying, as in The semester is almost over and we're all burning the midnight oil before exams. This expression alludes to the oil in oil lamps. [Early 1600s]
burn the midnight oil
To work or study very late at night.