What does "burn daylight" mean?

To use artificial light during the daytime when one could simply use the sunlight.

What is a synonym for "burn daylight"?

Common synonyms include: dabble, diddle, doodle, fribble, kill time, piddle.

verb

verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Verb

1
To use artificial light during the daytime when one could simply use the sunlight.
"O, Madam, no candles yet, I beseech you ; don't let us burn daylight."
2
To waste time. idiomatic
"Mercutio. Come, we burn daylight, ho! Romeo. Nay, that's not so. Mercutio. I mean, sir, in delay. We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day."

"O, Madam, no candles yet, I beseech you ; don't let us burn daylight."

Originally a reference to burning candles during the day.