Dictionary

burn daylight en · VERB

Etymology

Originally a reference to burning candles during the day.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To use artificial light during the daytime when one could simply use the sunlight.
   • It beginning to grow a little duskish, Candlemas lustily bawled out for lights, which was opposed by all the Days, who protested against burning daylight. 1835, Charles Lamb, Elia, page 71:
   • High on the list of iniquities was “burning daylight,” resorting to artificial light unnecessarily during the day. 2013, A. Roger Ekirch, At Day's Close: A History of Nighttime:
   • The place was but scantily lighted, for the community at present could ill afford to burn daylight. 1879, George MacDonald, The Marquis of Lossie:
   • O, Madam, no candles yet, I beseech you ; don't let us burn daylight. 1819, Sir Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, page 364:
2. (idiomatic, intransitive) To waste time.
   • Brad calls out, “Let's not burn daylight when there's work to be done!” 2007, Tom Thunderhorse, Charlie Goodbear, page 47:
   • Without anything to look forward to that night, I settled into a very slow pace just trying to burn daylight. 2012, Patrick McGlade, Six Miles Per Hour, page 191:
   • Mercutio. Come, we burn daylight, ho! Romeo. Nay, that's not so. Mercutio. I mean, sir, in delay. We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day. 1595, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet:
   • Said he knows how Jack hates to burn daylight—so he'll be here afore you pull out. 2010, Terry C. Johnston, Crack in the Sky: A Novel, page 267:
   • Now, let's head out, ma'am. We're burning daylight,” 2012, Douglas MacKinnon, Vengeance Is Mine:
   • You will find that the time goes quickly, so don't burn daylight—get marketing! 2012, Cheryl Kimball, Start Your Own Self Publishing Business:

Forms