Q21
EnglishIdioms, Phrasal Verbs & Proverbs
Choose the idiom that can be used to express the idea contained in the following sentence: The candidate is sitting late into the night to prepare for the examination.
- a.go haywire
- b.run amok
- c.sit tight
- d.burn the midnight oil
Answer: (D) burn the midnight oil
'To burn the midnight oil' means to work or study late into the night (from the days of oil lamps), so it fits a candidate preparing late for an examination. 'Go haywire' means to go out of control or stop working properly, 'run amok' means to behave in a wild, violent way (from Malay amuk), and 'sit tight' means to stay where you are and wait patiently. A close relative with a different meaning is 'to burn the candle at both ends', which is to exhaust oneself by doing too much, early and late.