Final answer:
In English, 'burn the midnight candle' means to work late into the night or stay up late studying. It implies putting in extra effort and sacrificing sleep to accomplish a goal.
Step-by-step explanation:
In English, the phrase 'burn the midnight candle' is a metaphorical expression that means to work late into the night or stay up late studying or working on a task. It implies putting in extra effort and sacrificing sleep to accomplish a goal.
For example, someone who stays up late preparing for an exam could be said to be 'burning the midnight candle'.
This expression can be traced back to the 19th-century poem 'First Fig' by Edna St. Vincent Millay, where the speaker compares themselves to a candle burning at both ends.