Burning the candle at both ends origin

To burn the candle at both ends has changed meaning since its inception in the 18th century. It originally described senseless waste. Candles were the main source of artificial lighting. Not only were they widely sought after, they were expensive.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary. All day you write, is it not so? And at night you come home to write still more? Ach, Kindchen! That tall child looks terrible!

Burning the candle at both ends origin

The idiom was translated from French in This means that you were causing your money to disappear. This is because candles were expensive and burning them cost money. If you were burning the candle at both ends, you were being wasteful. You would also have to hold the candle horizontally, which leads to the wax dripping off and being wasted. The idiom has since taken on a different meaning. Both ends refer to the end and beginning of the day. If you have to light a candle, then we assume it is dark outside. Thus, if you burn it in the morning, you are up before the sun, and if you burn it at night, it is already dark when you finish. The poet Edna St.

Similar Idioms bated breath bare bones bits and pieces. Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website.

Add to word list Add to word list. Work, working and the workplace. Translations of burn the candle at both ends in Chinese Traditional. See more. Need a translator?

Forget doing it or forget to do it? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns 2. Add to word list Add to word list. Work, working and the workplace. Translations of burn the candle at both ends in Chinese Traditional. See more. Need a translator? Translator tool.

Burning the candle at both ends origin

The phrase "burn the candle at both ends" is a popular idiom used to describe a situation where someone works too hard or tries too much at once. This idiom is often used to describe someone working long hours, juggling multiple responsibilities, or simply trying to do too much in a short time. The imagery of the idiom suggests that one is using up all of their energy or resources, similar to how a candle would burn out quickly if it were lit at both ends. The idiom has a single primary meaning, which relates to exhausting oneself by doing too much work or taking on too many responsibilities. This idiom suggests that the person is overexerting themselves mentally or physically and may eventually exhaust their energy or resources.

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All day you write, is it not so? English—Dutch Dutch—English. Translations of burn the candle at both ends in Chinese Traditional. This means that you were causing your money to disappear. Example Sentences Since starting my new job, I have been burning the candle at both ends. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Burn the candle at both ends What's the meaning of the phrase 'Burn the candle at both ends'? Right where his hand is now. Fire , Light , Work. This is because candles were expensive and burning them cost money.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary. All day you write, is it not so? And at night you come home to write still more?

This means that you were causing your money to disappear. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms. English—German German—English. Ach, Kindchen! It originally described senseless waste. Need a translator? This thought may well have been accentuated by the fact that candles may only be lit at both ends when held horizontally, which would cause them to drip and burn out quickly. The idiom has since taken on a different meaning. English—Swedish Swedish—English. Dictionary Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. The idiom was translated from French in Translations Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.