graveyard shift

plural graveyard shifts

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

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

   3 more examples

   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.

   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.

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

   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)

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

   Synonyms: night shift · Antonyms: day shift

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

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

   1 more example

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

   Synonyms: night shift · Antonyms: day shift