English idioms: Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Speaking with people from other time zones daily basis has its challenges. It means we are often awake for half the night practising, but then we need to get up early for school or work.

We call this ‘burning the candle at both ends’.

This is a great idiom to learn when you are working so hard that you are not leaving yourself enough time to rest.

Last night I ‘pulled an all-nighter’ (stayed awake all night) practising and I realised that I was burning the candle at both ends.

Example of use: 

A: “You seem really tired, you look terrible!”
B: “Yes, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends preparing for an exam.”

A: “I work for 10 hours during the day, then I come home and study until after midnight.”
B: “You should get some more sleep, you are burning the candle at both ends.”

On that note, I will take my own advice and go to bed!

Goodnight,

The Cookie Chef