burn the midnight oil

== English == === Etymology === Originally referring to the act of burning lamp oil in oil lamps for light at night. The collocation midnight oil in its literal sense is attested from mid 17th c. === Pronunciation === === Verb === burn the midnight oil (third-person singular simple present burns the midnight oil, present participle burning the midnight oil, simple past and past participle burned the midnight oil or burnt the midnight oil) (idiomatic) To work studiously, especially late into the night. Synonym: elucubrate Near-synonym: pull an all-nighter ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== burn the candle at both ends candlewasting