tolly
Definition
Noun (countable, informal, dated): - A candle (especially in school slang): "tolly" refers to a candle, often used in a school or dormitory context in historical British slang. It is a colloquial term, now largely obsolete.
Usage Examples
- (A candle used for illumination.)
- (A candle used for reading or working in secret.)
Advanced Usage
- "To burn the tolly at both ends": an idiomatic expression meaning to overwork oneself, derived from the phrase "burn the candle at both ends." This is a rare, extended use of the term.
- She was exhausted from burning the tolly at both ends during exam week. (She was working excessively, leading to fatigue.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tolly (no common variants): The word is not productive in modern English, and no standard derived forms exist. It is primarily a historical slang term.
Synonyms
- Candle: a cylinder of wax with a wick, used for light.
- Taper: a slender candle.
- Wick: the string in a candle that burns.
Phrasal Verbs
- No phrasal verbs are associated with "tolly."
Related Idioms
- "Burn the candle at both ends": to work or study excessively, often leading to exhaustion. This idiom is related to the concept of using a candle (or tolly) wastefully.
- He burned the candle at both ends by studying all night and working all day. (He exhausted himself by overworking.)
Note: "Tolly" is a rare, archaic slang term. It is not used in modern standard English and is primarily encountered in historical or literary contexts.