The expression 'to burn the candle at both ends' describes overextending oneself by working and playing too hard, risking burnout and illness.
The idiom 'to burn the candle at both ends' means to exhaust yourself by working excessively hard and engaging in too many social activities, eventually leading to illness.
| Idiom | to burn the candle at both ends |
|---|---|
| Definition | to work and play very hard so that you are in danger of becoming ill |
| Examples | - You're asking for trouble if you go on burning the candle at both ends like this. - Doesn't he realize he's a bit too old to be burning the candle at both ends? - Even though I was in really good shape until two years before I got sick, I was burning the candle at both end. I ate the wrong things and I wore myself out. |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Midnight oil burn i work burning stay late
Previous card: Home bring i brought make realize understand watched
Up to card list: Common English Idioms, Phrasal Verbs & Proverbs