The idiom “burning the midnight oil” originated in 17th-century England when people used petroleum-powered lamps. It means working during the night hours and is often seen as a positive sign of dedication to a project or cause. Today, it is used symbolically as people rarely work by oil lamp. Examples include employees working late to meet a deadline, parents caring for newborns, and students completing assignments.
The idiom that burns the midnight oil can be traced back to at least 17th-century England and means to work on a project or engage during the night hours. Before the invention of electric light, most lamps used for lighting were petroleum-powered. These lamps were usually turned off during the early evening hours as most people were getting ready for bed. Those who worked late into the evening would literally burn the oil late at night.
An English author named Frances Quarles referred to the burning of the midnight oil in a book called Emblemes, published in 1635. Quarles writes of the “midday sweat or midnight oyle” when referring to the human trait of working too hard. Working by candlelight or oil lamp was not considered an unusual activity in Quarle’s day. Many people preferred to work during the quieter night hours, although most oil lamps were unable to produce a substantial amount of light.
In a modern sense, the idiom is largely symbolic, since few people today voluntarily work by the light of an oil lamp. An employee working to a tight deadline or a project team preparing for an important presentation can “burn the midnight oil” by staying in the office after hours or working through the night at home. This may be the only way to meet a specific deadline or spend more time on a project without distractions.
The expression is generally taken to be positive, implying a person’s dedication to getting a project done in a timely manner, regardless of personal sacrifice. Lawyers working on a difficult court case or doctors working on a complicated diagnosis, for example, would be considered very dedicated if they were burning the midnight oil at work. It is often seen as an honorable sacrifice of personal time for a much greater or greater professional cause.
It can also be said that parents of newborns are burning the midnight oil with late night feedings and changes. Lawmakers working out the details of a new bill can also do so during special nightwork sessions. Students facing an imminent deadline for a research or term paper often find themselves working into the night before the assignment is due. Luckily for procrastinators and the ambitious, burning the midnight oil to complete a task is almost always a viable option.
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