pull an all-nighter

Meaning

This phrase means to stay awake all night to study, work, or complete a project. It is commonly used by students during exam weeks or before major assignment deadlines. While casual, it is widely understood in academic and professional contexts.

Examples

• I had to pull an all-nighter to finish my chemistry lab report on time.

  I had to pull an all-nighter to finish my chemistry lab report on time.

• Instead of pulling an all-nighter, you should get some sleep and finish the essay in the morning.

  Instead of pulling an all-nighter, you should get some sleep and finish the essay in the morning.

• She looks exhausted because she pulled an all-nighter studying for her finals.

  She looks exhausted because she pulled an all-nighter studying for her finals.

• We had to pull an all-nighter at the library to prep for our group presentation.

  We had to pull an all-nighter at the library to prep for our group presentation.

• I used to pull all-nighters in college, but now I value my sleep too much.

  I used to pull all-nighters in college, but now I value my sleep too much.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I made an all-nighter to study for my history exam.

  ✓ I pulled an all-nighter to study for my history exam.

  The idiom always uses the verb 'pull', not 'make' or 'do'.

• ✗ He spent an all-nighter doing his homework.

  ✓ He pulled an all-nighter doing his homework.

  While grammatically possible, 'spent an all-nighter' is unnatural. Native speakers almost exclusively use the verb 'pull' for this idiom.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If I don't start this essay now, I'll have to ___ tonight.

  💡 think of staying awake all night

  Show answer

  pull an all-nighter

• She ___ last night to prep for her biology presentation.

  💡 past tense of pull

  Show answer

  pulled an all-nighter