What does it mean when...

"EL_ULY" (uly)
03/03/2014 at 14:44 • Filed to: Blip Blipity Blip sauce!

something "can hold a candle to" another thing? Not can't :]

When learning English, these type of phrases/idioms always confused me. Even easy phases like, "hit the road". I knew what hit was and I knew what the road was.... but it wasn't literal lol :] Not sure what "can hold a candle to" means :(

DISCUSSION (21)

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 14:46

It's normally "can't hold a candle to".

It means that it can't compare favorably. It s less good, by a big margin .

puddler > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 14:48

works for me.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index…

EL_ULY > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
03/03/2014 at 14:49

o ok. So if it "can" is it better? or almost equal? or equal?

EL_ULY > puddler
03/03/2014 at 14:51

i'm just not too sure on the "can" over can't. Not sure if it's almost as good, equal, or better.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 14:53

I suppose that's a fair deduction

EL_ULY > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
03/03/2014 at 14:57

lol but which one :]

less than

equal

better

or slightly versions of 1-3

puddler > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 14:59

i've always heard can't.

a candle is a standard of measurment for measuring astronomical distances.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 15:20

The one that gets me is 'I couldn't care less'. It means that I don't care about something. This is the turn of phrase people usually mean.

People often say 'I could care less', which means that they care very much about something.

Jayhawk Jake > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 15:32

I don't think I've ever heard it used positively with 'can'

It's 'can't hold a candle to', as in it can't live up to the original or the alternative. I think I used it with regards to the Hennessy Venom GT, saying it can't hold a candle to the Veyron in terms of refinement.

Jayhawk Jake > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/03/2014 at 15:32

Yes, and 'should of' or 'would of'

It's should have, or would have. Should've, would've. Not should of.

Jayhawk Jake > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 15:34

You just don't use it. 'Can hold a candle to' implies that it's equal, or trying really hard and almost there, but the phrase is never used that way because it's confusing.

EL_ULY > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2014 at 15:38

Well it was a quote from The Stig (said by Clarkson)

in reference to the Ferrari F12 Berlinatta, "it is the only car that can hold a candle to the Lexus LFA"

Jayhawk Jake > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 15:46

Ah, that's an okay use then. That means equal or approaching. It's not better, but it might be as good.

EL_ULY > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2014 at 15:48

what would you get?

Jayhawk Jake > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 15:56

What do you mean? I wasn't stating my opinion, just clarifying the phrase.

I think the LFA is better sounding than the F12

EL_ULY > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2014 at 16:02

I knew you were, I wasn't trying to set you up lol :]

I'm torn. I've driven an LFA. All 5 of my senses came lol. The F12 just the sexiest thing ever though..

this will go down like the 512 and Countach... I just can't choose :(

if i had lots of the moneyz that is

EL_ULY > Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2014 at 16:03

thanks for the help. My English was never perfect. My Spanish was never perfect either lol :]

desertdog5051 > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 18:47

The phrase, 'can't hold a candle' means that the other person does not have an intelligence or skill comparable to the other. The term originated in ancient times, when the apprentices were assigned to hold candles, as it helped the master artisan work in the dark. The candle-holder was at a level much lower than the master was.

Reference:

www.americanidioms.net

EL_ULY > desertdog5051
03/03/2014 at 19:31

Wow, learn something everyday huh :]

EL_ULY > desertdog5051
03/03/2014 at 19:33

I heard the term in Top Gear when Clarkson quotes The Stig when speaking of the Ferrari F12 "it's the only car that can hold a candle to the Lexus LFA" He said can though, not can't

desertdog5051 > EL_ULY
03/03/2014 at 19:34

A little DD trivia.