Describing Hard Work: “Burn the Midnight Oil”

“Burn the midnight oil” is an idiomatic expression that means staying up late to work or study. It’s perfect for showing a high level of dedication and effort, especially useful in IELTS speaking and writing tasks, job interviews, and everyday conversations.

Examples of Usage

• “She had to burn the midnight oil to finish her project on time.”
  • Indicates working late to complete a task.
• “During exam periods, students often burn the midnight oil to prepare.”
  • Describes students staying up late to study.

This idiom is similar to “work late,” but it adds a more vivid and idiomatic touch to your language, making your descriptions more engaging.

This idiom is similar to “work late,” but it adds a more vivid and idiomatic touch to your language, making your descriptions more engaging.

― Ajarn Ken

Practice Makes Perfect

To get comfortable using “burn the midnight oil,” try incorporating it into your daily conversations and writing. Here are a few practice sentences:

1. “I’ve been burning the midnight oil all week to meet this deadline.”
2. “My friend is burning the midnight oil to prepare for his presentation.”

The more you use idiomatic expressions, the more natural they will become in your language repertoire.

Conclusion

Next time you need to describe working late, try using “burn the midnight oil” to add a more vivid and idiomatic touch to your English. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to use this and other expressions confidently in your conversations and writing tasks..

Take The Test

Register to receive 5 Lesson Friday every week and you can see the video lesson and take the test to test your knowledge and understanding of the English idiom ‘Burning the midnight oil’. Register for 5 Lesson Friday free here.