burn the candle at both ends

/bɜrn ðə ˈkændəl æt boʊθ ɛndz/
verb phrase★Intermediate— overwork oneself◆idiom
◆ What It Really Means
To exhaust oneself by working excessively hard, often to the point of physical or mental strain.
Literal Meaning
To light a candle at both ends, causing it to burn out quickly.
Literal Breakdown
burn the candleto set fire to a candle so it produces light+at both endson both the top and bottom of the candle
◇ Mental Image
A candle burning from both ends simultaneously, consuming itself rapidly and producing a bright but short-lived flame. This visualizes the idea of someone depleting their energy and health by working too hard.
◈ When to Use
Imagine a colleague who stays up late every night preparing reports and wakes up early to attend meetings. After weeks of this, they look exhausted. A friend might say, 'You're burning the candle at both ends—you need to rest.'
◉ Cultural Note
The phrase reflects the historical reliance on candles for light before electricity. Burning a candle at both ends was a wasteful practice, as it would quickly burn out, mirroring the unsustainable nature of overworking.
informal

to work excessively hard, often to the point of exhaustion

After burning the candle at both ends for months, he finally took a week off to recover.

After working extremely hard for months without rest, he took time off to rest.

She burned the candle at both ends during exam week and ended up getting sick.

She overworked herself during exams and became ill.

💡

Often implies sacrificing sleep or personal time to meet demands.

Collocations

burn the candle at both endswork too hard without restkeep burning the candle at both endscontinue overworking without taking breaks

Related Phrases

burn outphrasal verb
to become exhausted from prolonged stress
work around the clockphrase
to work continuously without rest
spread oneself too thinphrase
to take on too many responsibilities at once

💡Pro Tip

Avoid overusing this phrase

While the idiom is useful, avoid using it too frequently in writing or speech to maintain its impact. Reserve it for situations where someone is clearly overworking themselves.

⚡Gold Rule

Use in context of exhaustion

This idiom should only be used when someone is working so hard that it is physically or mentally harmful. It is not appropriate for moderate workloads.

📖Word Origin

The phrase dates back to the 18th century and refers to the literal act of burning a candle at both ends to produce more light, which would quickly consume the candle. It metaphorically represents exhausting oneself by working too hard.

📝Usage Notes

Commonly used to describe unsustainable work habits, often leading to burnout. It can apply to both professional and personal contexts where someone is overextending themselves.

English Dictionary