all-nighter

An all-nighter is traditionally a Northern Soul dance party - the 60s equivalent of a rave, where the kids would stay up all night groovin' away and taking lots of amphetamines and dexedrine. All-nighters were big with the Mod scene in London. Unfortunately, the term has become somewhat domesticated. Now the only Mods in sight are the sound modules used to playback that FatBoy Slim track while drinking caffeine, taking cookies and looking at Java beans, instead of being filled with jumping beans.

Landscape Architecture Students pull all nighters all the time. It's a condition that turns us all into nocturnal beasts, always fighting the bedtime hour. We feel more productive if we sleep less. That makes us good in bed.

• may not feel comfortable explaining why you're tired.
• worse yet, may feel comfortable explaining why you're tired.
• usually won't get paid for it.

Indeed, it is possible for an all-nighter to be undertaken because of boredom, or to create a challenge for the following day. Also, dorm inhabitants may find themselves too lazy to go to sleep - preferring caffeine and company/computers to the hassle of bedtime preperations.

However, these habits tend to lead to mid-day crashes or complete nocturnal activities.