candle

bell, book, and candle things that are miraculous or that signal that something

unusual or bizarre may soon happen. (Alluding originally to the items used when performing the rite of excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church.) Look, I can't work miracles! Do you expect me to show up at your house with bell, book, and candle, and make everything right? You have to take charge of your own destiny! On the top shelf of the tiny used-book store, Jim saw a bell, book, and candle sitting in a row, and he knew he was going to find some very interesting reading material.

See also: and, miraculous, signal, thing

burn the candle at both ends

Fig. to work very hard and stay up very late at night. (One end of the candle is work done in the daylight, and the other end is work done at night.) No wonder Mary is ill. She has been burning the candle at both ends for a long time. You'll wear out if you keep burning the candle at both ends.

See also: both, burn, end

can't hold a candle to someone

Fig. not [to be] equal to someone; unable to measure up to someone. (Also with cannot.) Mary can't hold a candle to Ann when it comes to athletics. As for singing, John can't hold a candle to Jane.

See also: hold

not hold a stick to someone or something and not hold a candle to someone or something

Fig. not to be nearly as good as someone or something. Sally is much faster than Bob. Bob doesn't hold a stick to Sally. This TV doesn't hold a candle to that one. That one is much better.

See also: hold, stick

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burn the candle at both ends

to get little sleep or rest because you are busy until late every night and you get up early every morning (usually in continuous tenses) She'd been burning the candle at both ends studying for her exams and made herself ill.

See also: both, burn, end

can't hold a candle to somebody/something

if someone or something cannot hold a candle to someone or something else, they are not as good as that other person or thing These pop bands that you hear nowadays can't hold a candle to the groups we used to listen to in the sixties.

See also: hold

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somebody/something can't hold a candle to somebody/something else also somebody/something doesn't hold a candle to somebody/something else

someone or something is not as good as someone or something else For Walter, basketball and football can't hold a candle to baseball.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form something can hold a candle to something else: Not one of her drawings can hold a candle to yours.

See also: hold

burn the candle at both ends

to regularly stay awake late and get up early because you are too busy I'm busy trying to get ready for the holidays and burning the candle at both ends.

See also: both, burn, end