english vocabulary

When we have to stay up late at night to finish a big project that’s due the next day, or because we have an exam the next morning, we say that we’re burning the midnight oil.

I’m going to really have to burn the midnight oil tonight if I want to pass my test tomorrow.

Marianne and I burned the midnight oil last night to finish the project on time, and then the boss didn’t even need it today!

These two words can be confusing because they both refer to the end of a series. But they are easy to distinguish.

We use latest to refer to the most recent example of something. There is no implication that there will be no more.

I really like Amy MacDonald’s latest CD—have you heard it?
This is the latest in a series of high-quality beauty products we offer you.

This expression is used when you allow someone to ride in your car and you take them where they need to go.

“Could you please give me a lift to the airport tomorrow? I don’t want to pay for a taxi.”