candle (redirected from could hold a candle)

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. She'd been burning the candle at both ends studying for her exams and made herself ill. (usually in continuous tenses)

See also: both, burn, end

can't hold a candle to someone/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: can't, 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

someone/something can't hold a candle to someone/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: can't, hold