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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 1Scene 4
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"burn daylight"
Language
Act 1,
Scene 4
Lines 38-45

An explanation of the phrase, “burn daylight” in Act 1, Scene 4 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Mercutio

Tut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word.
If thou art dun, we'll draw thee from the mire,
Or — save your reverence — love, wherein thou stickest
Up to the ears. Come, we burn daylight, ho!

Romeo

Nay, that's not so.

Mercutio

                               I mean, sir, in delay
We waste our lights in vain, like lamps by day.
Take our good meaning, for our judgment sits
Five times in that ere once in our five wits.

Mercutio uses this proverbial expression to mean to waste time. To “burn daylight” means to waste the daylight hours, which is the only time work can be done. But Romeo thinks he means burning candles or torches during daylight, which would be a waste of resources, not a waste of time. In explaining what he meant, Mercutio relates the two: it's nighttime, but by standing around talking instead of getting to the party, they are wasting their torches, just as they would if they burned them during the daytime.