(idiomatic, colloquial) To maintain daily routine and provide the necessities of life in a home or community.

It takes a long time to destroy something complicated or impressive.

simple past tense and past participle of burn the candle at both ends

present participle of burn the candle at both ends

(idiomatic) To work hard night and day. / To waste something in two directions at once.

simple past tense and past participle of fiddle while Rome burns

present participle of keep the home fires burning

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of keep the home fires burning

simple past tense and past participle of keep the home fires burning

Alternative form of once bitten, twice shy