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]
Burning the midnight oil
| Idioms: burn the midnight oil |
| Best of the Web: Burning the midnight oil |
Some good "Burning the midnight oil" pages on the web:
 Phrase www.phrases.org.uk |
Learn More
 | The Grant: Mad About You (TV Episode) (1996 Comedy TV Episode) |
| Arthur After Hours: The Larry Sanders Show (TV Episode) (1995 Comedy TV Episode) |
| Let the Games Begin: Melrose Place (TV Episode) (1995 Drama TV Episode) |
 | How did midnight oil begin? Read answer... |
| Why do you burn oil? Read answer... |
| The vocalist of midnight oil? Read answer... |
Help us answer these
 | What midnight oil album has the song beds are burning? |
| Who first used the expression burn the midnight oil? |
| Who is Midnight Oil's lead singer? |
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
 |
 | Idioms. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
Related answers
- Burn the midnight oil?
- What is the meaning of burn the midnight oil?
- What does burning the midnight oil mean?
- Does oil burn?
ADVERTISEMENT
Answer these
- What is meant by burning the midnight oil?
- What is the meaning of burning the midnight oil literly?
- How do oils burn?
- Can oil burn you?
Mentioned in
- The Grant: Mad About You (TV Episode) (1996 Comedy TV Episode)
- Arthur After Hours: The Larry Sanders Show (TV Episode) (1995 Comedy TV Episode)
- Let the Games Begin: Melrose Place (TV Episode) (1995 Drama TV Episode)
- Platinum & Gold Collection (2004 Album by Dolly Parton)
- Heavy Beats, Vol. 1 (1999 Album by DJ Spinna)
- Lowell Ganz (Writer, Actor, Director, Comedy/Comedy Drama)
- What Am I Gonna Do About You (1986 Album by Reba McEntire)
- Rhyme Related (1999 Album by Polyrhythm-Addicts)
- The Right Combination/Burning the Midnight Oil
- Midnight Engineering
- The Right Combination
- Modern Day Human Waste
- The Best of Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
- Together Always
