If you keep burning the candle at both ends, you’ll burn out.
word origin — From a 1600s French expression — a candle burned at both ends melts twice as fast, like overworked energy.
burn the candle at both ends, once in a blue moon, the eleventh hour, beat the clock, against the clock: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 25. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
burn the candle at both ends · idiom/bɜrn ðə ˈkændl ət boʊθ ɛndz/
to overwork oneself
If you keep burning the candle at both ends, you’ll burn out.
Origin: From a 1600s French expression — a candle burned at both ends melts twice as fast, like overworked energy.
once in a blue moon · idiom/wʌns ɪn ə blu mun/
very rarely
We only go to that restaurant once in a blue moon.
Origin: Refers to a rare second full moon in one month; the phrase dates to the 1500s as an image of rarity.
the eleventh hour · idiom/ði ɪˈlɛvənθ ˈaʊɚ/
the last possible moment
He finished his assignment at the eleventh hour.
Origin: From the Bible (Matthew 20) — workers hired at the eleventh hour still received the same full day's pay.
beat the clock · idiom/bit ðə klɑk/
to finish something before a deadline
We managed to beat the clock and submit the report on time.
Origin: A 20th-century American sports expression — finishing an action before time officially runs out.
against the clock · idiom/əˈɡɛnst ðə klɑk/
in a hurry to meet a deadline
We are working against the clock to complete the project.
Origin: From auto racing in the early 1900s — drivers competed not against each other but against the clock itself.