Language: en
Meaning: To useartificiallightduring thedaytimewhen one could simply use thesunlight.1819, Sir Walter Scott,Ivanhoe, page364:O, Madam, no candles yet, I beseech you ; don't let usburn daylight.1835, Charles Lamb,Elia, page71:It beginning to grow a little duskish, Candlemas lustily bawled out for lights, which was opposed by all the Days, who protested againstburning daylight.1879, George MacDonald,The Marquis of Lossie:The place was but scantily lighted, for the community at present could ill afford toburn daylight.2013, A. Roger Ekirch,At Day's Close: A History of Nighttime:High on the list of iniquities was “burning daylight,” resorting to artificial light unnecessarily during the day.; (idiomatic)Towaste time.1595, William Shakespeare,Romeo and Juliet:Mercutio. Come, weburn daylight, ho!Romeo. Nay, that's not so.Mercutio. I mean, sir, in delay. We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day.2007, Tom Thunderhorse,Charlie Goodbear, page47:Brad calls out, “Let's notburn daylightwhen there's work to be done!”2010, Terry C. Johnston,Crack in the Sky: A Novel, page267:Said he knows how Jack hates toburn daylight—so he'll be here afore you pull out.2012, Douglas MacKinnon,Vengeance Is Mine:Now, let's head out, ma'am. We'reburning daylight,”2012, Cheryl Kimball,Start Your Own Self Publishing Business:You will find that the time goes quickly, so don'tburn daylight—get marketing!2012, Patrick McGlade,Six Miles Per Hour, page191:Without anything to look forward to that night, I settled into a very slow pace just trying toburn daylight.
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