the graveyard shift
2019.10.09
Meaning:
Like in Japanese, in English a ‘shift’ (シフト) is a set period of time to work. Many workers – doctors and nurses, hairdressers, hotel staff, construction workers – do ‘shift work’. For example, hotels often organise 3 shifts per day – day shift 6:00-15:00, evening shift 14:00-23:00 and graveyard shift 22:00-7:00. We call the late-night shift the graveyard shift because it is such a silent, ghostly time. A graveyard is another word for cemetery (墓地); a place where dead people are buried.
Example:
A: You look hungover. Did you go out last night?
B: No, I didn’t drink at all last night. I worked the graveyard shift!
Talking Point(s):
Have you ever worked the graveyard shift? Was it easy?
大人からの英会話getgo 西船橋・荻窪・津田沼・本八幡