raise lamp wick; work by lamplight
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to raise the wick of an oil lamp (to brighten the light)
literaryRefers to the traditional action of adjusting the wick of an oil lamp to make it brighter. Often used in literary or historical contexts, famously in the phrase '挑灯看剑' (raising the lamp to look at one's sword) from Xin Qiji's poetry.
He raised the lamp to examine the ancient painting carefully.
Intoxicated, I raised the lamp to look at my sword; in dreams, I returned to the camps where horns blew continuously.
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The oil lamp was about to go out, so he raised the wick.
verb
to hang a lamp high; to work or study by lamplight at night
Commonly used in set phrases such as 挑灯夜战 (work/fight at night by lamplight) and 挑灯夜读 (study at night by lamplight), implying diligence or working late into the night.
To meet the deadline, the workers labored through the night by lamplight.
When he was young, he often studied by lamplight deep into the night, reading extensively.
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Ancient people fought by lamplight at night; modern people work overtime through the night.