Meaning & use
hold a candle
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiom
To be nearly as good as someone or something else, used in negative statements.
Grammar: Almost always used in the negative: 'can't hold a candle to'.
Patterns
- can't hold a candle to someone
- not hold a candle to something
The new restaurant is fine, but it can't hold a candle to the one on the corner.
No young player today can hold a candle to her at her best.
phraseidiomold-fashionedliterary
Literally, to hold a candle for someone, as in old household work or a religious ceremony.
Grammar: Rare and literal; usually part of a longer phrase like 'hold a candle for someone'.
Patterns
- hold a candle for someone
In the old painting, a servant holds a candle for the family as they climb the stairs.
Common combinations
- can't hold a candle to
- Their old car can't hold a candle to this one.
- not hold a candle to
- The sequel does not hold a candle to the original film.
- couldn't hold a candle to
- In those days, no shop in town could hold a candle to hers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- compare with
- Neutral and used in positive or negative sentences; 'hold a candle' is stronger and almost always negative.
- match up to
- Suggests meeting a standard, while 'hold a candle' suggests coming close to someone's quality.
Commonly confused: hold a candle or carry a torch?
hold a candle vs carry a torch
'Carry a torch for someone' means to love someone secretly, not to be nearly as good as them.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'hold a candle' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The idiom appears in the negative with 'to': 'can't hold a candle to'. Option 1 misses 'can't', and option 3 changes the meaning to loving someone.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hold a candle”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.