Meanings
Calque of French brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts. Popularized through a poem of Edna St. Vincent Millay.[1]
To work hard night and day.
To sleep late and wake up early; not well-rested.
To waste something in two directions at once.
Example Sentences
1
You need to take a break; otherwise, you'll burn the candle at both ends and exhaust yourself.
2
It's not healthy to burn the candle at both ends for too long; eventually, it will catch up with you.
