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midnight

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one hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after

Sleep before midnight is more rejuvenating than sleep after midnight. The phrase encourages going to sleep at an early hour. No matter how often I tell my son that one hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after, he still stays up too late playing video games. I've really noticed a difference in the quality of my sleep since I started going to bed earlier. It must be true that one hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after!

See also: after, before, midnight, one, sleep, two, worth

burn the midnight oil

Fig. to stay up working, especially studying, late at night. (Alludes to working by the light of an oil lamp late in the night.) I have a big exam tomorrow so I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight. If you burn the midnight oil night after night, you'll probably become ill.

See also: burn, midnight, oil

burning the midnight oil

working very long hours, often into the night What doctors do know is that burning the midnight oil is bad for your health.

Etymology: from the use of oil to provide light before the invention of electricity

See also: burning, midnight, oil

burn the midnight oil

to work very late into the night I've got to get this report finished by tomorrow so I guess I'll be burning the midnight oil tonight.

See also: burn, midnight, oil

burn the midnight oil

Stay up late working or studying, as in The semester is almost over and we're all burning the midnight oil before exams. This expression alludes to the oil in oil lamps. [Early 1600s]

See also: burn, midnight, oil

burn the midnight oil

To work or study very late at night.

See also: burn, midnight, oil