What it means
It means you're rinsing yourself by staying up late and still dragging yourself up early, so before long you're running on crumbs and bad decisions. The image is simple: light a candle at both ends and it'll burn out way quicker. People say it about work, partying, or doing both like your body's got unlimited battery when it absolutely hasn't.
Usage examples
"I’ve been burning the candle at both ends all week, late at the pub then up for the commute. No wonder I’m shattered."
"He's been burning the candle at both ends all week, work till late then up at six for the gym."
"You can't keep burning the candle at both ends, mate, you'll be knackered before the deadline even lands."
"She's been burning the candle at both ends for months, doing late shifts then trying to be sunshine at school drop-off."
"Mate, if you keep burning the candle at both ends for this wedding and that side hustle, you're gonna fold by Friday."
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Where it comes from
This one's properly old. It comes from the literal idea of lighting a candle at both ends, which makes it burn through itself much faster. The figurative use was already around in English by the 18th century, and people have kept using it for anyone rinsing their energy too hard ever since.
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