burn the candle at both ends
Meaning
To overwork or overuse your time and energy by staying busy late into the night and starting early, risking exhaustion or burnout.
Origin
From the image of lighting a candle at both ends, making it burn faster and not last; used metaphorically for living or working at an unsustainable pace (attested from the early 18th century).
Notes
Often implies an unsustainable pace and a warning about burnout. Neutral to mildly critical; common in everyday speech about work/study/life balance. Not usually used as praise.
Examples
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I’ve been burning the candle at both ends all week, and I’m finally running out of steam.
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She burned the candle at both ends to finish the project and study for finals.
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If you keep burning the candle at both ends, you’re going to get sick.
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He was burning the candle at both ends—working late and waking up early to train.
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They’ve been burning the candle at both ends since the baby arrived, so they’re exhausted.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase: burn/burning/burned the candle at both ends. Usually used with progressive/perfect forms (“I’ve been burning…”). Keep “the candle” and “at both ends” intact; minor variation: “burn the candle at both ends, and in the middle.”
Synonyms
- overwork
- run yourself ragged
- push yourself too hard
- do too much
- burn yourself out
Antonyms
- take it easy
- rest up
- pace yourself
- work regular hours