Phrase guide

hold a candle

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • hōld′ ə kăn′dəl
  • Received-Pronunciation, contemporary: /ˌhəʊ̯ld ə ˈkan.dəl/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌhəʊ̯ld ə ˈkæn.dəl/ conservative
  • Canada, General-American: /ˌhoʊ̯ld ə ˈkæn.dəl/
  • Australian: /ˌhəʉ̯ld ə ˈkæn.dəl/
  • AuE Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • New-Zealand: /ˌhɐʉ̯ld ə ˈkɛn.dəl/
  • Scotland: /ˌhold ə ˈkan.dəl/
  • India: /ˌhoːlɖ a ˈkan.ɖel/

1

verb

Meaning 1

To compare; to be even remotely of the same quality, skill, etc. as another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The old computer just doesn't hold a candle to the latest models.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the custom of apprentices to a master holding a candle so that the master could see more clearly. The negative version implies that a person who was not fit even for such a simple task was worthless.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 望其项背 (wàngqíxiàngbèi) — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Czech: sahat po kotníky — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Finnish: pärjätä — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Finnish: painia samassa sarjassa — be even remotely of the same quality
  • French: faire le poids — be even remotely of the same quality
  • French: arriver à la cheville (ne pas arriver à la cheville de) — be even remotely of the same quality
  • German: jemandem nicht das Wasser reichen können — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Hungarian: nem lehet egy napon említeni — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Hungarian: a kisujjával sem ér fel — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Polish: umywać się do — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Polish: dorastać do pięt — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Portuguese: chegar aos pés — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Russian: в подмётки не годи́ться (v podmjótki ne godítʹsja) — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Spanish: llegar a la suela del zapato — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Spanish: llegar a los talones — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Thai: เทียบติด (tîiap-dtìt) — be even remotely of the same quality
  • Thai: เทียบได้ (tîiap-dâai) — be even remotely of the same quality