burn daylight

Originally a reference to burning candles during the day.

• "Mercutio. 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."
• "Brad calls out, “Let's not burn daylight when there's work to be done!”"
• "Said he knows how Jack hates to burn daylight—so he'll be here afore you pull out."
• "Now, let's head out, ma'am. We're burning daylight,”"
• "You will find that the time goes quickly, so don't burn daylight—get marketing!"
• "Without anything to look forward to that night, I settled into a very slow pace just trying to burn daylight."