What does "Graveyard shift" mean?

A late-night or overnight work shift Working during the hours when most people are asleep, typically midnight to 8am.

How do you use "Graveyard shift" in a sentence?

Working the graveyard shift. On graveyard this week. Graveyard shift is tough. Doing graveyards.

Graveyard shift

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: A late-night or overnight work shift

深夜或通宵工作班次

Turno de trabajo nocturno o de madrugada

深夜または夜通しの勤務シフト

심야 근무 또는 야간 근무

Working during the hours when most people are asleep, typically midnight to 8am.

在大多数人睡觉的时间工作，通常是午夜到早上8点。

Trabajar durante las horas en que la mayoría duerme, normalmente de medianoche a las 8 de la mañana.

ほとんどの人が寝ている時間、通常は深夜0時から朝8時まで働くこと。

대부분의 사람이 잠든 시간에 일하는 것, 보통 자정부터 오전 8시까지.

Examples

Working the graveyard shift.
上夜班
Trabajando el turno de noche
深夜勤務をしている
야간 근무 중이야.
On graveyard this week.
这周上夜班
Esta semana tengo el turno de noche
今週は深夜勤務だ
이번 주는 야간 근무야.
Graveyard shift is tough.
夜班很辛苦
El turno de noche es duro
深夜勤務はきつい
야간 근무는 힘들어.
Doing graveyards.
在上夜班
Haciendo turnos de noche
深夜勤務をしている
야간 근무하고 있어.

Pronunciation

/ˈɡreɪvjɑːd ʃɪft/

Usage Guide

Context: shift work, night work, schedules

Tone: descriptive, often sympathetic

✓ Do Say

Graveyard shift.
夜班
Turno de noche
深夜勤務
야간 근무.
On graveyards.
在上夜班
En turnos de noche
深夜勤務中
야간 근무 중이야.
Working graveyard.
上夜班
Trabajando de noche
深夜勤務をしている
야간 근무하고 있어.

✗ Don't Say

Often viewed negatively
Often viewed negatively（通常被负面看待）
Often viewed negatively（A menudo visto negativamente）
Often viewed negatively（否定的に見られることが多い）
보통 부정적으로 여겨짐
Shift work culture
Shift work culture（轮班工作文化）
Shift work culture（Cultura del trabajo por turnos）
Shift work culture（シフト勤務の文化）
교대 근무 문화

Common Mistakes

Night shift, not literal graveyard
Universal term

Origin & History

Origin debated—possibly from the dead of night being like a graveyard.

Etymology: Possibly from quiet/dead night hours

First recorded: American term from early 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: Early 20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Working class especially

Pop culture: Shift work; Hospital/factory culture

Regional notes: Universal. American origin.

Variations

Graveyard shiftGraveyardsThe graveyard