Burning The Midnight Oil

Description

“Burning the midnight oil” is an idiom meaning to work or study late into the night, often sacrificing sleep to complete a task or meet a deadline. The phrase originates from a time when people relied on oil lamps to work after dark.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Meaning:
The idiom signifies dedication and hard work, typically involving extended hours of effort, often beyond normal working or studying hours.
Origin:
The phrase is a literal reference to the practice of using oil lamps to illuminate spaces for working or studying after sunset.
Modern Usage:
While oil lamps are no longer common, the idiom remains in use to describe the act of staying up late to work or study.
Example:
“She’s been burning the midnight oil to finish her project before the deadline”.
Synonym:
“Burning the candle at both ends” is a related idiom, though it can also imply a more excessive and potentially harmful level of activity.

表达 to burn the midnight oil 的字面意思是“烧午夜的油”，我们用这它来表达一个人“挑灯夜战，开夜车”，熬夜学习或工作。

例句
She had to burn the midnight oil to get the report done on time.
为了按时完成那份报告，她不得不工作到深夜。

He was burning the midnight oil studying for his exam.
他为了准备考试学习到很晚。

I was burning the midnight oil last night: I only got two hours’ sleep.
昨晚我工作到很晚，只睡了两个小时。