pull an all-nighter

USAGE SUMMARY

"pull an all-nighter" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
Generally, it is used to refer to the act of staying up all night (usually to study or work), and it can be used in any type of written English, from informal to formal. For example, you might write: "I'm going to have to pull an all-nighter if I'm going to finish this project in time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

"I figure I pull an all-nighter for work.

The New York Times

On Sept. 27 the Brooklyn Academy of Music plans to pull an all-nighter.

The New York Times - Arts

He was getting ready to pull an all-nighter, hoping to be done with the project by January.

The New Yorker

If you must pull an all-nighter on a project, don't hold that up as exemplary behavior.

Harvard Business Review

"Harvard Man" resembles the term paper that a talented, feckless undergraduate might pull an all-nighter to finish.

The New York Times

Likewise, recovering after an all-nighter without sleep in our 20s tends to be much easier than trying to pull an all-nighter in our 50s.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

If I'm really stressed out or I pull an all nighter I'll pretty much always get lucid dreams.

Vice

DO NOT pull an all nighter.

WikiHow

Pull an all nighter with your mates.

WikiHow

Only pull an all nighter at an appropriate time.

WikiHow

If you want, you could pull an all nighter.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While primarily informal, it is acceptable in professional journalism and business advice to describe high-pressure work situations.

Common error

Do not use "pull an all-nighter" if you simply went to bed at 2 AM. The phrase implies staying awake for the entire duration of the night or until the following morning's start time. For shorter durations, use "stay up late" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pull an all-nighter" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. According to Ludwig, it follows a Verb + Article + Noun construction where "pull" acts as the causative verb and "all-nighter" acts as the direct object noun. The inclusion of the hyphen is standard when "all-nighter" is used as a compound noun.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Legal

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pull an all-nighter" is a well-established and correct English idiom used to describe staying awake for an entire night to complete a task. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across high-authority publications like The New York Times and the Harvard Business Review, particularly in contexts involving academic stress, creative deadlines and business emergencies. While it is informal in nature, its meaning is universally understood in the English-speaking world. Writers should use it to convey a sense of intensive effort, but may opt for more literal alternatives like "work through the night" in strictly formal documentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stay up all night

More literal and slightly less idiomatic than the query

burn the midnight oil

A more traditional and literary idiom for working late

work through the night

A neutral and literal description of the action

burn the candle at both ends

Implies a general state of overwork rather than a single night

pull a double shift

Specific to workplace environments and consecutive work periods

stay awake until dawn

Focuses on the state of wakefulness rather than the work performed

pull a late-nighter

Suggests working very late but not necessarily until morning

grind through the night

Adds a connotation of difficult or tedious labor

elucubrate

An extremely formal and rare academic term for studying by lamplight

lose sleep over

Focuses on the consequence or the anxiety causing the lack of sleep

FAQs

How to use "pull an all-nighter" in a sentence?

You can use it as a standard verb phrase: "I had to "pull an all-nighter" to prepare for the final exam."

What is the meaning of "pull an all-nighter"?

It means to remain awake throughout the entire night, typically to work or study. It is synonymous with "burn the midnight oil" or "stay up all night".

Is it more correct to say "pull an all nighter" or "stay up all night"?

Both are correct. ""stay up all night"" is more literal and formal, while "pull an all-nighter" is a common idiom often used in student and office culture.

Can I use "pull an all-nighter" in formal writing?

It is generally considered informal or neutral. In very formal academic papers, you might prefer "work throughout the night", though high-quality sources like the Harvard Business Review frequently use the idiom.