在电灯普及前，人们需要烧油灯工作。现在专门指为了学习或工作而一直忙碌到深夜。

• I have an exam tomorrow, so I’ll be burning the midnight oil tonight. ^{我明天有考试，所以今晚得挑灯夜战了。}
• The team had to burn the midnight oil to finish the project on time. ^{团队不得不加班加点以按时完成项目。}
• She’s been burning the midnight oil lately to get her thesis finished. ^{她最近一直在为了完成论文而熬夜。}