Question

Idiom: "Burn the midnight oil” 

• A. Waste time
• B. Work late into the night
• C. Read useless books
• D. Wake up early

Hint:

To understand idioms, visualize their literal meaning (e.g., burning oil in a lamp at night) and connect it to the figurative sense (working late). Eliminate options that don’t match the context or historical imagery of the phrase.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The idiom "Burn the midnight oil" means to work late into the night. Historically, this referred to using oil lamps to provide light for late-night work or study. It symbolizes dedication and diligent effort.

Meaning Analysis
Working late into the night: This accurately reflects the idiom's meaning.

Option Assessment

Option	Assessment
Waste time	Incorrect. The idiom implies productivity, not idleness.
Work late into the night	Correct. This aligns perfectly with the idiom's definition.
Read useless books	Incorrect. The idiom focuses on productive effort, not unproductive activities.
Wake up early	Incorrect. The idiom pertains to staying up late, not waking early.

Summary: The idiom "Burn the midnight oil" is correctly interpreted as working late into the night.