Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Burn the midnight oil

work late into the night

The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "burn the midnight oil" is to work late into the night.

The other options are incorrect.

• "Burn things using oil" is not the same as burn the midnight oil. Burning things using oil is a literal action, while burn the midnight oil is a figurative expression.
• "Work many nights at a stretch" is not the same as burn the midnight oil. Working many nights at a stretch is a more specific action, while burn the midnight oil is a more general expression.
• "Create problems in the night" is not the same as burn the midnight oil. Creating problems in the night is a negative action, while burn the midnight oil is not necessarily negative.

The idiom "burn the midnight oil" comes from the idea of people studying or working late into the night by candlelight, which was often made from oil. So, when someone is said to be burning the midnight oil, it means that they are working late into the night. For example, you might say that a student is burning the midnight oil to study for an exam.