Interesting phrases part 74

"Burning the midnight oil" is this oil some how different than the oil for the rest of the day? Is oil for midnight only to be used at 12 a.m.? How long is midnight oil good for at 12:01 do you need to change your your oil? This is too much just go to bed.

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brewster12345 · 61-69, MVIP

The idiom dates back to at least the 1600s and comes from the practice of using oil lamps after dark. If someone was working late into the night, they would quite literally be burning oil at midnight.