burn midnight oil

to stay up all night doing work. often homework.

i burned midnight oil last night but slept in coz i was too tired

by yo April 15, 2004

burn the midnight oil

To stay up all night working. Apparently some drop the "the", though this must be rare.

Man Bob, you must have really burned the midnight oil on this one!

by ManyTreez May 29, 2005

burning the midnight oil

To do hard drugs(cocaine, heroin meth, etc)

Dustin burning the midnight oil.

by ElectricBananaMan June 19, 2011

Burning the green midnight oil

To stay up smoking the marijuana rather than sleeping. Usually followed by an attack of the munchies, resulting in a loss of snack food.

"I'm sorry i fell asleep in your class, Professor, but I was up all night burning the green midnight oil."

by xcaptain7howdyx January 25, 2010

burning the midnight oil

Make coffee to stay awake

Boil some water, I'll be burning the midnight oil and I take my coffee black.

by A gumpy Gen-X January 31, 2016