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.

Our current understanding of this phrase is of a life lived frenetically and unsustainably - working or enjoying oneself late into the night only to begin again early the next day. It didn't having that meaning when it was first coined in the 18th century. The 'both ends' then weren't the ends of the day but were a literal reference to the two ends of a candle. Candles were useful and valuable see not worth the candle and the notion of waste suggested by lighting both ends at once implied reckless waste. 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.

Burning the candle at both ends origin

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! Get some rest, tall child! You can't keep burning the candle at both ends! Ormsby had burned the candle at both ends. Her establishment was costly on the one hand; her pleasures costly on the other. It is a world burning the candle at both ends , enjoying twice the light in half the time, and spinning all the faster toward annihilation and the Void. The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables.

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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.

Burning the candle at both ends origin

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

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What's on your mind? English Translations. Ach, Kindchen! To top. English—Swedish Swedish—English. March 18, Example Sentences Since starting my new job, I have been burning the candle at both ends. English—Dutch Dutch—English. The poet Edna St. Translations of burn the candle at both ends in Chinese Traditional. English—Spanish Spanish—English. Word lists shared by our community of dictionary fans. 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.

Oh, Denise is definitely burning the candle at both ends—she's been getting to the office early and staying very late to work on some big project.

Share your opinions 2 Opinions. Right where his hand is now. Grammar Thesaurus. Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content:. Your feedback will be reviewed. 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. Essential British English. With the changes wrought by the age of electricity, the phrase changed as well. Example Sentences Since starting my new job, I have been burning the candle at both ends. Browse burn someone at the stake phrase. English Pronunciation. Said when Husband and Wife are both Spendthrifts. Views Read Edit History.