graveyard shift

English

Etymology

By association of the spooky, cold and silent properties of both the night and graveyards.

Noun

graveyard shift (plural graveyard shifts)

1. A work shift late at night, especially one from midnight to 8 AM on a three-shift schedule.

   Antonym: day shift

   Coordinate terms: first shift (usually antonymous); second shift; third shift (usually synonymous); swing shift

   Near-synonym: night shift (sometimes synonymous; sometimes coordinate)

   I had to work the graveyard shift for most of that year, and at first I hated it, but eventually I even kind of liked it, in some ways.

   • 1994, Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary, Pulp Fiction, spoken by Jimmie (Quentin Tarantino):

     Now she's workin' the graveyard shift at the hospital. She'll be comin' home in less than an hour and a half. Make your phone calls, talk to your people, then get the fuck out of my house.

   • 2006, Roberto Refinetti, Circadian physiology, volume 1, page 580:

     It is generally believed that when rotating shifts are necessary the rotation should move clockwise (that is, day shift first, then swing shift, then graveyard shift, then back to day shift, and so on)

2. A group of workers who work during this time slot.

   Antonym: day shift

   Coordinate terms: first shift (usually antonymous); second shift; third shift (usually synonymous); swing shift

   Near-synonym: night shift (sometimes synonymous; sometimes coordinate)

   You'll have to ask the graveyard shift — the equipment was here when we left.

Related terms

• graveyard watch

 

Translations

night shift — see night shift