Working overnight is one of the toughest things to do. You have to battle your natural inclination to sleep while also staying on top of your game. In fact, have you ever wondered what the late-night and overnight shifts are called? They are considered the graveyard shift. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The meaning of a graveyard shift is a set of work hours that encompasses the time between midnight and 8 am in the morning. While this is the typical meaning, it can also mean any set hours between those times, either in part or in full. Most people who state that they have to work the graveyard shift mean that they need to work late at night until early in the morning. For some, this may mean working from 11 pm until 4 am, or it may mean midnight until 5 am. Any hours that fall between midnight and 8 am qualify as being the graveyard shift.
When someone says they are working the graveyard shift, they are referring to their hours, but there is another meaning. The phrase also refers to the group of people who work that shift. For example, someone can say they want to throw a party for the graveyard shift. This implies they are referring to a large batch of people who typically work those hours.
Example Usage
“I am scheduled to work the graveyard shift at the hospital, but I also have class in the morning”.
“Those who take on the graveyard shift with glee are truly a different breed”.
“Hey Juan, do you want to swap hours with me? I’m scheduled for the graveyard shift, but I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow”.
“My supervisor must really hate me, not only did they cut my hours, but I also am on the graveyard shift all week”.
Origin
The phrase the graveyard shift is now associated with working an overnighter, but its origins may surprise you. The source of the phrase can be dated back to the 1800s before advanced medicine. Just like today, there were times when people would fall into a coma due to their illness or trauma. In many cases, a deep coma would put the body into a deathlike state, and as such, those suffering were pronounced dead.
For various reasons, such as grave robbing, floods in the graveyard, or vandalism, some coffins were dug up. On many occasions, claw marks or scratch marks were found inside the coffin lids. This was evidence that someone at one point was trying to escape their grave, mainly because they were not actually dead.
Due to the frequency of these mistakenly buried people, it became common to attach a bell and cord to a body prior to burial. Those tasked with listening for the bells from midnight until sunrise was called the graveyard shift workers. Medicine has evolved in recent years and the practice no longer exists, however, those that work all night are still considered the graveyard shift.
Phrases Similar to Graveyard Shift
- Burning the midnight oil
- Overnighter
- Dogwatch
- 3rd shift
- Swing shift
- Lobster shift
- Anchor watch
Phrases Opposite to Graveyard Shift
- Dayshift
- Office hours
- Daytime shift
- Normal hours
- Day work
- Business hours
- Regular shift
- Day watch
What is the Correct Saying?
- The proper way to say the phrase is – the graveyard shift.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say Graveyard Shift
Some ways that the graveyard shift is used incorrectly are:
- I hate working the graveyard shift during the day, it leaves me too tired to party at night.
- Can you tell the supervisor to put me on for a week of graveyard shifts? Specifically, 8 to 1 am.
- I just got off working a graveyard shift, what store do you think is going to be open at 2 am to serve me dinner?
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Graveyard Shift
Some ways that the graveyard shift is used correctly are:
- As a registered nurse, chances are you will have to cover at least one graveyard shift per week in the city.
- Did you know that the phrase graveyard shift was from people who literally worked overnight in the graveyard!?
- Most people who work the graveyard shift tend to sleep for a better part of the morning.