Brooke Martin
The idiom don't save the candle is a phrase used to convey that someone or something is inferior or less impressive than another. The phrase originates from the pre-electricity era when apprentices would hold candles to illuminate the work of skilled craftsmen. Being a candle-holder was not a skilled job, and so it would be an insult for a craftsman to be told they weren't good enough to hold a candle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Used to compare two things, usually to state that one is inferior to the other |
| Origin | The phrase originates from the pre-electricity era when apprentices would hold candles to light the work of skilled craftsmen. If someone couldn't hold a candle to another person, it meant they weren't qualified to be their assistant. |
| Examples | "His new car is nice, but it can't hold a candle to his old classic Mustang." "Even the best homemade pizza can't hold a candle to pizza in Naples." "My mom's homemade cookies simply can't hold a candle to store-bought ones." |
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What You'll Learn
The idiom's origin
The idiom "don't hold a candle to" or "can't hold a candle to" is used to compare two things, with one being inferior or less impressive than the other. For example, "His new car is nice, but it can't hold a candle to his old classic Mustang". Here, the speaker is saying that the new car pales in comparison to the old one.
The phrase originates from the pre-electricity era when apprentices would hold candles to illuminate the work of skilled craftsmen. If someone couldn't hold a candle to another person, it implied that they weren't even competent enough to be their assistant. It is believed to have been first recorded in English in Sir Edward Dering's "The fower cardinal-vertues of a Carmelite fryar" in 1641.
The idiom has survived and is still used commonly today, even though the original context of holding a candle for light has been replaced by electric lighting. The phrase is now used in a figurative sense, comparing the quality or value of two things.
The preposition "to" in the idiom is significant. It can be understood as a shortened version of "toward", indicating that the candle-holder is directing the candlelight toward the master craftsman or their work. If done incorrectly, the master would not be able to see properly to perform their task.
The idiom "can't hold a candle to" has endured due to its effectiveness in conveying a stark comparison between two things, one being superior and the other inferior, whether it be cars, music, food, or even people's abilities.
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The apprentice's role
The idiom "don't save the candle" or "can't hold a candle to" originates from the pre-electricity era when apprentices would be employed as a second pair of hands, often to hold candles to light the work of skilled craftsmen. This was not considered a skilled job, and the apprentices were usually children. Being told that they weren't good enough to hold a candle was a grievous insult, implying that they were worthless and lacked even the basic competence required for this simple task.
The idiom "don't save the candle" or "can't hold a candle to" is used to compare two things, usually implying that one is inferior, less impressive, or not on the same level as the other. For example, "His new car is nice, but it can't hold a candle to his old classic Mustang." Here, the speaker is saying that the new car is not as good as the old classic Mustang.
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When to use 'to'
The idiom "don't hold a candle to" or "can't hold a candle to" is used to compare two things, with one being inferior or less impressive than the other. The phrase originates from the pre-electricity era when apprentices would hold candles to illuminate the work of skilled craftsmen. Being a candle-holder was not a skilled job, and so if someone couldn't hold a candle to another person, it meant they weren't even competent enough to be their assistant.
- "His new car is nice, but it can’t hold a candle to his old classic Mustang."
- "Even the best homemade pizza can’t hold a candle to pizza in Naples."
- "No offense, but your rendition of the song doesn’t hold a candle to the original."
- "Her previous performances were great, but they can’t hold a candle to her latest show."
- "Despite their efforts, other tech companies can’t hold a candle to Apple’s innovative design."
- "The sequel to the movie was good but didn’t hold a candle to the original."
In these examples, the phrase "don't hold a candle to" is used to express that one thing is not as good as or is inferior to another.
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When to use 'for'
The idiom "don't hold a candle to" or "can't hold a candle to" is used to compare two things, usually to state that one thing is inferior or less impressive than another. It implies that one thing is not as good as the other and is not on the same level in terms of quality, competence, or effectiveness.
For example, one might say, "When it comes to singing, my brother can't hold a candle to my sister," indicating that the sister is a better singer. Similarly, "His new car is nice, but it can't hold a candle to his old classic Mustang" suggests that the old car is superior to the new one.
The phrase originates from the pre-electricity era when apprentices would hold candles to illuminate the work of skilled craftsmen. If someone couldn't hold a candle to another person, it implied they weren't even qualified to be their assistant.
Therefore, the idiom "don't hold a candle to" is used when you want to express that someone or something is not as good as, or inferior to, another person or thing in a comparative sense.
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Examples of use
The idiom "don't save the candle" or "can't hold a candle to" is used to compare two things, with one being inferior or less impressive than the other. Here are some examples of how this idiom can be used in context:
Comparing Products or Creations
"Even the fanciest restaurant pizza can't hold a candle to the authentic pizza I tasted in Naples."
"The sequel to the movie was good, but it didn't hold a candle to the original."
"My mom's homemade cookies are delicious, but they can't hold a candle to the store-bought ones."
"No matter how much I practice, my singing can't hold a candle to my sister's."
Comparing Performances or Achievements
"Her previous performances were great, but they can't hold a candle to her latest show."
"Despite their best efforts, the school football team can't hold a candle to the national team."
"His new car is nice, but it can't hold a candle to the classic Mustang he sold last year."
"The local coffee shop's brews are good, but they can't hold a candle to a carefully crafted home brew."
Comparing Companies or Organisations
"The new tech start-up has potential, but it can't hold a candle to Apple's innovation and design prowess."
"The small theatre company puts on great shows, but they can't hold a candle to the productions of Broadway."
"Our local grocery store has a wide selection, but it can't hold a candle to the big-box stores in terms of price and variety."
"While the independent bookstore is charming, it can't hold a candle to Amazon when it comes to convenience and delivery."
The idiom originates from the pre-electricity era when apprentices would hold candles to illuminate the work of skilled craftsmen. If someone "couldn't hold a candle to" another person, it implied they lacked even the basic skills to assist the master craftsman.
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Frequently asked questions
"Don't save the candle" is another way of saying "don't hold a candle to". This is an idiom that compares two things, usually stating that one is inferior to the other.
The phrase originates from the pre-electricity era when apprentices would hold candles to light the work of skilled craftsmen. If someone couldn't hold a candle to another person, it meant they weren't qualified to be their assistant.
Sure, here's an example: "The sequel to the movie was good but didn't hold a candle to the original."
