graveyard shift
Meaning
A late-night work shift, typically overnight (around midnight to early morning).
Origin
Recorded in the early 1900s in U.S. English. It likens the very late hours to a graveyard—quiet, dark, and associated with death—suggesting an eerie, lonely overnight shift.
Notes
Common, informal term for an overnight shift. It often implies tiring hours, low staffing, and a quiet, lonely atmosphere.
Examples
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I worked the graveyard shift at the hospital for three years.
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The diner needs someone to cover the graveyard shift on weekends.
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After a week of graveyard shifts, my sleep schedule is completely messed up.
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Security guards on the graveyard shift rarely see anyone come through the building.
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She prefers the graveyard shift because it’s quieter and pays a little more.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Used as a noun phrase: “work the graveyard shift,” “on the graveyard shift,” “graveyard-shift workers.” The plural is “graveyard shifts.” Sometimes shortened to “graveyard.”
Synonyms
- overnight shift
- night shift
- late shift
Antonyms
- day shift
- morning shift