burn the candle at both ends
/ˌbɜːn ðə ˌkændl ət ˌbəʊθ ˈendz/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
to get too little rest by being busy from early morning until late at night
Examples
- 1Between the night shifts and her evening course, Aisha is burning the candle at both ends.
- 2You can't burn the candle at both ends forever — you'll make yourself ill.
- 3Tom went out with friends every night and still started work at seven — he was burning the candle at both ends.
- 4Stop burning the candle at both ends and get some proper sleep before the exam.
- 5Leo has been burning the candle at both ends since the baby arrived, and he looks exhausted.
Grammar
Only burn changes form: burned or burnt. Often continuous: be burning the candle at both ends. Keep both ends plural.
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