burn the candle at both ends

== English == === Alternative forms === burn one's candle at both ends === Etymology === Calque of French brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts. First attested in the 18th century, originally in the sense “to be doubly profligate”. === Verb === burn the candle at both ends (third-person singular simple present burns the candle at both ends, present participle burning the candle at both ends, simple past and past participle burned the candle at both ends or burnt the candle at both ends) (idiomatic) To work hard night and day; to sleep late and wake up early; to overwork or overexert oneself. (idiomatic, dated) To waste or expend resources twice over; to be doubly profligate. ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== burn the midnight oil not worth the candle the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long === References === === Further reading === “burn the candle at both ends”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.