Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
hold-a-candle-to
idiom
/hoʊld ə ˈkæn.dl tuː/
Definition
To compare favorably to someone or something; to match in quality or ability.
Examples
- She is talented, but no one can hold a candle to the way he plays the piano.
- When it comes to creativity, his ideas hold a candle to none.
- Many cars nowadays cannot hold a candle to the classic models from the 1960s.
Meaning
The phrase suggests that one person or thing does not measure up to another’s standards or qualities.
Synonyms
- compare with
- measure up to
- stand up to
