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Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

After taking on two demanding jobs while studying for his university examinations, Chukwuma realized he was burning the candle at both ends. What is the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expression as used in the sentence?

  1. Exhausting his health and physical energy by overworking himself without sufficient restAnswer
  2. B
    Lighting a wax candle from both tips to generate maximum illumination in his study room
  3. C
    Carelessly squandering his personal financial savings on unnecessary household expenses
  4. D
    Maintaining a relaxed and well-balanced daily schedule with ample time for leisure

Answer

Exhausting his health and physical energy by overworking himself without sufficient rest
The idiomatic expression 'burning the candle at both ends' means to work extremely hard, staying up late and getting up early, thereby exhausting one's physical energy and health. In the context of the sentence, Chukwuma is managing two demanding jobs alongside academic studies, which directly illustrates overworking to the point of exhaustion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The subject is combining two demanding jobs with intensive academic study for university examinations.
Contextual clues indicate excessive workload, pressure, and late/early working hours.
2
Determine the figurative meaning of 'burning the candle at both ends'
The idiom metaphorically describes consuming energy rapidly from both early morning and late night effort, leading to exhaustion.
Idioms cannot be interpreted literally; they carry established figurative meanings.
3
Select the option that best expresses this figurative meaning
The option stating that he is exhausting his health and physical energy by overworking himself without sufficient rest matches the meaning precisely.
It accurately reflects the consequences of overexertion described by the idiom.

Key Concept

Interpretation of English Idioms in Context
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Topics

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

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