burn the midnight oil; work tirelessly day and night
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to burn the midnight oil; to work or study diligently day and night; to make continuous untiring effort
literaryLiterally 'burning the oil to continue the sundial.' A formal, literary idiom describing tireless effort in study or work. Often used in written language or formal speeches to praise diligence.
Tā他
fén焚
gāo膏
jì继
guǐ晷
，
lì历
shí时
sān三
nián年
zhōng终
yú于
wán完
chéng成
le了
zhè这
bù部
xué学
shù术
jù巨
zhù著
。
He burned the midnight oil and finally completed this monumental academic work after three years.
Wèi为
le了
tōng通
guò过
kǎo考
shì试
，
tā她
fén焚
gāo膏
jì继
guǐ晷
de地
fù复
xí习
le了
zhěng整
zhěng整
yī一
gè个
yuè月
。
In order to pass the exam, she studied tirelessly day and night for a whole month.
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Zhè这
wèi位
kē科
xué学
jiā家
fén焚
gāo膏
jì继
guǐ晷
de地
gōng工
zuò作
，
zuì最
zhōng终
qǔ取
dé得
le了
zhòng重
dà大
tū突
pò破
。
This scientist worked around the clock and finally achieved a major breakthrough.