Recherche parmi différents professeurs en Anglais…
cyanstar
A and B are talking on the phone. Then:
A: I'm sorry but I have to get back to the office. I've got so much to work.
B: Okay. Don't get stuck there. Burning the five p.m. candle on a Friday.
What does "Burning the five p.m. candle" mean here? Does it mean you'd better leave the office at the crack of 5?
16 déc. 2024 15:41
Réponses · 2
2
The phrase "burning the five p.m. candle" is an informal expression that means working late into the evening, especially on a Friday. It implies that someone is staying at work past the typical quitting time, often sacrificing their personal time.
So, in this context, B is telling A to not stay too late at the office and to make sure they leave on time. It's a friendly reminder to avoid overworking, especially on a Friday when people typically want to relax and enjoy the weekend.
16 décembre 2024
2
It's a play on the expression 'burning the midnight oil', I think (unless this is used in American English as a separate expression).
'Burning the midnight oil' means to work very late. Here, they wouldn't be working until midnight, but after five o' clock, if they stayed. So it means you don't want to be stuck working late on a Friday.
16 décembre 2024
Vous n'avez pas encore trouvé vos réponses ?
Écrivez vos questions et profitez de l'aide des locuteurs natifs !
cyanstar
Compétences linguistiques
Anglais, Coréen
Langue étudiée
Anglais
Articles qui pourraient te plaire

Same Word, Different Meaning: American, British, and South African English
9 j'aime · 7 Commentaires

How to Sound Confident in English (Even When You’re Nervous)
12 j'aime · 9 Commentaires

Marketing Vocabulary and Phrases for Business English Learners
7 j'aime · 2 Commentaires
Plus d'articles