You may have heard the phrase ‘burning the candle at both ends’ many times in conversation. But have you ever wondered where this saying comes from and what it means? We are going to take a look at the origins of this saying and how we can use it in every day speech.
Burning the Candle at Both Ends Meaning, Origin and Usage
Key Takeaways
- The phrase “burning the candle at both ends” means to work excessively hard, often to the point of exhaustion, by doing too many things at once or by staying up late and waking up early. It suggests someone is using up their energy quickly by trying to accomplish too much without taking time to rest, leading to physical and mental fatigue.
Burning the Candle at Both Ends Meaning
The meaning of the idiom ‘burning the candle at both ends’ refers to a person who is taking on an immense amount of tasks and therefore is struggling to function normally in their life. It talks about doing too much and ending up totally exhausted, perhaps someone who is not looking after themselves correctly because they are putting all of their focus into working.
Origin of this Phrase
This phrase is believed to have come from the French saying Brusler la chandelle par les deux bouts which has the same meaning. The term came from the 1800s when candles were of great value and it was seen as wasteful if one were to literally burn a candle at both ends, in the same way that the metaphorical sense implies that exhausting oneself is a great waste of energy.
Usage of “Burning the Candle at Both Ends”
- Work-Life Balance:
- “Between her job and night classes, she’s been burning the candle at both ends and barely gets any sleep.”
- (She is overworking herself by juggling multiple responsibilities without rest.)
- Health Concerns:
- “You’ve been burning the candle at both ends for weeks now. It’s no wonder you’re feeling sick.”
- (Overworking and lack of rest are affecting the person’s health.)
- Launching a Project:
- “He’s been burning the candle at both ends to get the new product ready for launch.”
- (He is working extremely hard, possibly at the cost of sleep, to meet deadlines.)
- Advice to Slow Down:
- “Stop burning the candle at both ends, or you’re going to burn out.”
- (A warning that working too much without rest will lead to exhaustion.)
The phrase is often used to caution against overextending oneself and to highlight the importance of rest and balance.
Related Terms to “Burning the Candle at Both Ends”
- Overworked and overstressed – Being excessively busy and under pressure.
- Burnout – Physical and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or overwork.
- Running on empty – Continuing to work or function even when exhausted.
- Spreading oneself too thin – Taking on too many tasks, leading to inefficiency or exhaustion.
- Pushing oneself to the limit – Working to the point of physical or mental exhaustion.
- Working around the clock – Continuously working without much rest or sleep.
- Wearing oneself out – Depleting energy by overworking or overextending.
- Burning out – Exhausting one’s resources, energy, or enthusiasm by working too hard.
- All work and no rest – Focusing only on work without giving time for relaxation.
- Running ragged – Being extremely tired or worn out due to excessive activity.
Other Ways to Say the Phrase
Other ways in which you might express the meaning of the term ‘burning the candle at both ends’ would be as follows.
- Living a fast paced life
- Exhausting yourself
- Work hard
- Overwork
- Work overtime
- Endeavor
“Burning the Candle at Both Ends” Examples
You could use the saying ‘burning the candle at both ends’ when you are talking about someone who is working themselves far too hard. You could also use it to describe how you are feeling when you have many tasks to complete and not enough time to do them in.
Conversation examples:
You might hear this phrase used in conversations which are similar to the following examples.
Conversation 1:
- Person 1: “Peter has been spending a lot of time at work lately. He is so tired.”
- Person 2: “I’m not surprised, burning the candle at both ends like that.”
Conversation 2:
- Person 1: “I haven’t seen much of you recently. Have you been busy?”
- Person 2: “Very, I’m burning the candle at both ends trying to finish all my work.”