Night is a time when the sky gets dark, and people usually rest or sleep. But in language, “night” can also be part of special sayings called idioms. Idioms are phrases that don’t always mean exactly what the words say. For example, if someone says, “It was a night to remember,” they don’t just mean it was nighttime. They mean something important or interesting happened.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that use the word “night.” These expressions can help you understand books, shows, and conversations better. They can also make your writing more fun. You’ll see what these idioms mean and how people use them in real life. Let’s get started and learn what people really mean when they talk about “night” in different ways.
Idioms for Night
1. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: To work or study late into the night.
Sample Sentences: She burned the midnight oil to finish her homework. / I had to burn the midnight oil to get ready for the test.
Other Way to Say: Work late / Study at night
2. Night owl
Meaning: Someone who stays up late at night.
Sample Sentences: My brother is a night owl; he always plays video games late. / She’s a night owl and reads books after midnight.
Other Way to Say: Late riser / Someone who stays up late
3. The dead of night
Meaning: The very middle of the night when it’s very quiet and dark.
Sample Sentences: The cat came home in the dead of night. / We heard a noise in the dead of night.
Other Way to Say: Late night / Middle of the night
4. Sleep like a log
Meaning: To sleep very deeply and well.
Sample Sentences: After the long day, I slept like a log. / She sleeps like a log every night.
Other Way to Say: Sleep soundly / Sleep deeply
5. Nightcap
Meaning: A small drink before going to bed.
Sample Sentences: Grandpa always has a nightcap before bedtime. / He drank a warm milk nightcap to help him sleep.
Other Way to Say: Bedtime drink / Final drink
6. Burning the candle at both ends
Meaning: Working too hard or staying up too late and getting tired.
Sample Sentences: She’s burning the candle at both ends with school and soccer. / Don’t burn the candle at both ends or you’ll get sick.
Other Way to Say: Overworking / Staying up too late
7. Night and day
Meaning: Something that is very different or changes completely.
Sample Sentences: His grades changed night and day after studying. / The weather went from hot to cold, night and day.
Other Way to Say: Completely different / Totally changed
8. Call it a night
Meaning: To stop working or doing something and go to bed.
Sample Sentences: It’s late; let’s call it a night. / After playing games, we decided to call it a night.
Other Way to Say: Stop for the night / Go to bed
9. Night on the town
Meaning: Going out to have fun at night, like to parties or movies.
Sample Sentences: We had a fun night on the town last Saturday. / They went for a night on the town to celebrate.
Other Way to Say: Evening outing / Night out
10. In the nick of time (at night)
Meaning: Just in time before something bad happens, often late at night.
Sample Sentences: He got home in the nick of time before the storm. / We finished our project in the nick of time last night.
Other Way to Say: Just on time / Barely made it
11. Night watch
Meaning: Watching or guarding something during the night.
Sample Sentences: The night watch keeps the school safe. / He worked the night watch at the store.
Other Way to Say: Night guard / Night shift
12. Overnight success
Meaning: Becoming famous or successful very quickly.
Sample Sentences: The singer became an overnight success after her song played on the radio. / The movie was an overnight success.
Other Way to Say: Quick success / Instant fame
13. Night terror
Meaning: A bad or scary dream at night.
Sample Sentences: She woke up from a night terror and was very scared. / Night terrors can make it hard to sleep.
Other Way to Say: Bad dream / Scary dream
14. Up all night
Meaning: Staying awake the whole night.
Sample Sentences: We were up all night finishing our science project. / He was up all night playing video games.
Other Way to Say: Awake all night / No sleep
15. Night life
Meaning: Things people do for fun at night, like going to clubs or restaurants.
Sample Sentences: New York City has exciting night life. / We explored the night life on our vacation.
Other Way to Say: Evening fun / Night entertainment
16. Make a night of it
Meaning: To spend the whole evening having fun.
Sample Sentences: We decided to make a night of it and went to the movies and dinner. / Let’s make a night of it and visit the amusement park.
Other Way to Say: Spend the evening out / Enjoy the whole night
17. Nightcap
Meaning: Something done or taken before going to sleep.
Sample Sentences: She read a book as a nightcap before bed. / A hot cup of tea was my nightcap tonight.
Other Way to Say: Bedtime routine / Final activity
18. Midnight snack
Meaning: A small meal or snack eaten late at night.
Sample Sentences: I grabbed a midnight snack because I was hungry. / He loves to have a midnight snack after watching TV.
Other Way to Say: Late-night snack / Nighttime food
19. Dark as night
Meaning: Very dark or without light.
Sample Sentences: The cave was dark as night. / It was dark as night outside, so we used flashlights.
Other Way to Say: Very dark / Pitch black
20. Night shift
Meaning: Working during the night hours.
Sample Sentences: My mom works the night shift at the hospital. / He took the night shift at the store.
Other Way to Say: Late shift / Overnight work
21. Night out
Meaning: Going out for fun during the evening or night.
Sample Sentences: We had a night out at the movies. / They planned a night out with friends.
Other Way to Say: Evening outing / Night on the town
22. Into the night
Meaning: Continuing late into the night.
Sample Sentences: They talked into the night. / We worked on the project into the night.
Other Way to Say: Late into the night / Until late
23. Nightcap
Meaning: A drink or something done before sleeping at night.
Sample Sentences: He had a warm milk nightcap to relax. / Reading is my nightcap before bed.
Other Way to Say: Final drink / Bedtime habit
24. Night vision
Meaning: The ability to see in the dark.
Sample Sentences: Some animals have good night vision. / The soldiers used night vision goggles.
Other Way to Say: Seeing in the dark / Night sight
25. Last call
Meaning: The last chance to buy drinks or do something before closing time, usually at night.
Sample Sentences: The bartender said it was last call. / We ordered one more drink at last call.
Other Way to Say: Final chance / Closing time
26. Pitch black
Meaning: Completely dark.
Sample Sentences: The room was pitch black with no lights on. / The night was pitch black in the forest.
Other Way to Say: Total darkness / Completely dark
27. Sleep tight
Meaning: A way to say “sleep well.”
Sample Sentences: Goodnight! Sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite. / I told my sister to sleep tight after bedtime.
Other Way to Say: Sleep well / Rest easy
28. Night owl
Meaning: Someone who stays awake late and is active at night.
Sample Sentences: My dad is a night owl and watches TV late. / She’s a night owl and loves reading at night.
Other Way to Say: Late sleeper / Night person
29. After dark
Meaning: Time after the sun has set.
Sample Sentences: We went for a walk after dark. / The park closes after dark.
Other Way to Say: After sunset / At night
30. Midnight hour
Meaning: The time around midnight.
Sample Sentences: The clock struck the midnight hour. / They started the party at the midnight hour.
Other Way to Say: Midnight / 12 o’clock at night
31. Sleep in late
Meaning: To stay asleep until late in the morning.
Sample Sentences: On weekends, I like to sleep in late. / She sleeps in late when there is no school.
Other Way to Say: Wake up late / Stay in bed
32. Night fever
Meaning: A feeling of excitement or energy at night.
Sample Sentences: The dance gave me night fever. / We had night fever at the concert.
Other Way to Say: Night excitement / Night energy
33. Early bird
Meaning: Someone who wakes up early in the morning.
Sample Sentences: My sister is an early bird and gets up at 6 am. / The early bird gets the worm.
Other Way to Say: Morning person / Early riser
34. Stay up late
Meaning: To not go to bed at the usual time.
Sample Sentences: I stayed up late watching a movie. / They stayed up late to finish the game.
Other Way to Say: Be awake late / Not go to bed early
35. Sleep like a baby
Meaning: To sleep very well and peacefully.
Sample Sentences: I slept like a baby after my nap. / She sleeps like a baby every night.
Other Way to Say: Sleep soundly / Rest peacefully
36. Nightcap
Meaning: A small drink before going to sleep.
Sample Sentences: Grandpa enjoys a nightcap of warm milk. / She had a nightcap of herbal tea.
Other Way to Say: Bedtime drink / Final drink
37. Candlelight
Meaning: Light made by a candle, often soft and warm.
Sample Sentences: We had dinner by candlelight. / The room glowed with candlelight.
Other Way to Say: Soft light / Candle glow
38. Burn the candle
Meaning: To use energy or resources quickly, often by working too hard.
Sample Sentences: He burns the candle when he studies all night. / Don’t burn the candle or you will get tired.
Other Way to Say: Work too hard / Use up energy
39. Nightcap
Meaning: Something done or enjoyed before going to sleep.
Sample Sentences: Reading a book is my nightcap. / I have a warm cup of tea as a nightcap.
Other Way to Say: Bedtime habit / Final activity
40. Night sky
Meaning: The sky as seen at night, often with stars.
Sample Sentences: We looked up at the night sky full of stars. / The night sky was clear and beautiful.
Other Way to Say: Dark sky / Starry sky
41. Sleep over
Meaning: To spend the night at someone else’s house.
Sample Sentences: I’m going to have a sleepover at my friend’s house. / We had a fun sleepover last weekend.
Other Way to Say: Overnight stay / Stay the night
42. In the wee hours
Meaning: Very early in the morning, before dawn.
Sample Sentences: We finished the movie in the wee hours of the morning. / She woke up in the wee hours.
Other Way to Say: Early morning / Before sunrise
43. Nighttime
Meaning: The time during the night.
Sample Sentences: Nighttime is quiet in our neighborhood. / I like reading at nighttime.
Other Way to Say: After dark / Evening hours
44. Sleepyhead
Meaning: Someone who is always tired or likes to sleep a lot.
Sample Sentences: Come on, sleepyhead, it’s time to wake up! / My brother is such a sleepyhead.
Other Way to Say: Late riser / Slow to wake up
45. Bedtime
Meaning: The usual time to go to bed.
Sample Sentences: My bedtime is 9 o’clock. / It’s almost bedtime; get ready to sleep.
Other Way to Say: Time to sleep / Sleep time
46. Nightlight
Meaning: A small light used at night to help see in the dark.
Sample Sentences: I use a nightlight so I’m not scared in the dark. / The baby sleeps with a nightlight on.
Other Way to Say: Soft light / Small lamp
47. Night shift
Meaning: Working during the night hours.
Sample Sentences: My dad works the night shift at the hospital. / She prefers the night shift at her job.
Other Way to Say: Late shift / Overnight work
48. Midnight
Meaning: Twelve o’clock at night, the middle of the night.
Sample Sentences: The clock struck midnight. / We started the party at midnight.
Other Way to Say: 12 a.m. / Middle of the night
49. Stay awake
Meaning: To not fall asleep.
Sample Sentences: I stayed awake to watch the fireworks. / She tried to stay awake during the movie.
Other Way to Say: Keep awake / Not sleep
50. Lights out
Meaning: Time to turn off the lights and go to sleep.
Sample Sentences: The teacher said lights out at 10 p.m. during camp. / Lights out means bedtime.
Other Way to Say: Bedtime / Sleep time
51. Goodnight kiss
Meaning: A kiss given before going to sleep as a sign of love.
Sample Sentences: Mom gave me a goodnight kiss. / They shared a goodnight kiss before bed.
Other Way to Say: Night kiss / Bedtime kiss
52. Nightfall
Meaning: The time when it becomes night.
Sample Sentences: We arrived at the park at nightfall. / Nightfall means the sun has set.
Other Way to Say: Sunset / Evening time
53. Midnight snack
Meaning: A small food eaten late at night.
Sample Sentences: I grabbed a midnight snack because I was hungry. / She loves a midnight snack after studying.
Other Way to Say: Late-night snack / Nighttime food
54. Night breeze
Meaning: A gentle wind that blows at night.
Sample Sentences: The night breeze was cool and nice. / We felt the night breeze while camping.
Other Way to Say: Evening wind / Cool night air
55. Sleep tight
Meaning: A way to wish someone a good and peaceful sleep.
Sample Sentences: Sleep tight, and don’t let the bedbugs bite! / I told my sister to sleep tight after saying goodnight.
Other Way to Say: Sleep well / Rest easy
Multiple Choice Question: Idioms for Night
1. What does “night owl” mean?
A. A person who loves birds
B. A person who stays up late
C. A person who sleeps all day
2. If someone says, “Let’s call it a night,” what are they likely doing?
A. Starting a party
B. Going to bed or ending the activity
C. Going out to dinner
3. What does “up all night” mean?
A. Taking naps all night
B. Watching the stars for fun
C. Not sleeping the whole night
4. “The night is young” means:
A. It’s late and time to sleep
B. The evening has just started
C. There is a baby outside
5. If someone says, “It was a night to remember,” what does it mean?
A. They forgot what happened
B. It was a boring night
C. It was a special or fun night
6. What does “burn the midnight oil” mean?
A. Light a candle at bedtime
B. Stay up late working or studying
C. Take a hot shower at night
7. “In the dead of night” means:
A. When everyone is outside
B. The middle of the night when it’s very quiet
C. Early in the morning
8. What does “midnight snack” mean?
A. Dinner at a fancy place
B. A snack eaten during the day
C. A small food item eaten late at night
9. “Sleep like a log” means:
A. Sleep very deeply
B. Roll around in bed
C. Snore loudly
10. “Before night falls” means:
A. Before the sky turns dark
B. After midnight
C. Before the moon rises
11. What does “make a night of it” mean?
A. Take a nap
B. Turn off the lights
C. Spend the evening doing something fun
12. “Ships in the night” means:
A. Two people passing without talking or connecting
B. Two boats sailing in the ocean
C. A trip to the beach at night
Answer Key
- B. A person who stays up late
- B. Going to bed or ending the activity
- C. Not sleeping the whole night
- B. The evening has just started
- C. It was a special or fun night
- B. Stay up late working or studying
- B. The middle of the night when it’s very quiet
- C. A small food item eaten late at night
- A. Sleep very deeply
- A. Before the sky turns dark
- C. Spend the evening doing something fun
- A. Two people passing without talking or connecting
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master!
You really understand idioms related to night. Great job! - 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love idioms.
You’re doing great, just a little more practice and you’ll master them! - 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
Keep learning! You’re understanding more every time. - 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore the world of love idioms together.
That’s okay! This is just the beginning. Keep going and you’ll improve quickly.
Conclusion
Learning idioms about night helps us understand how people describe feelings, events, and time in a fun way. These phrases are used in everyday life, in books, and in movies.
Now that you know what they mean, you can use them when you talk or write. Keep practicing, and you’ll become more confident with expressions like these.
