Смысл: candle

candle1. [ʹkændl] n
<Í> 1. свеча, свечка
wax [tallow] candle - восковая [сальная] свеча
candle grease - свечное сало
2. физ. международная свеча
3. газовая горелка
4. 1) воен. дымовая свеча
2) пиротехническая свеча
3) = candle-bomb
♢ cannot /is not fit to/ hold a candle - не выдерживает сравнения с; ≅ в подмётки не годится
to hold a candle to smb. - помогать кому-л.; играть подчинённую роль
to hold a candle to the devil - а) свернуть с пути истинного; б) потворствовать дурному /злу/, содействовать преступлению
to burn the candle at both ends - а) прожигать жизнь; б) безрассудно растрачивать силы /здоровье/
the game is not worth the candle - игра не стоит свеч

2. [ʹkændl] v спец.
<Í> миражировать, проверять просвечиванием (яйца и т. п.)

not the brightest candle Идиома

burn the candle at both ends

work or play too hard without enough rest He has been burning the candle at both ends with his work and his studies. That is why he became sick.

can't hold a candle

(See hold a candle)

hold a candle

do as well, compare with, measure up The Buick is nice, but it can't hold a candle to the Cadillac.

hold a candle to

be in the same class or level with (used with a negative usually), can be compared with As far as good service goes that restaurant can

can't hold a candle to

Idiom(s): can't hold a candle to sb

Theme: SIMILARITY - LACKING

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 auto racing.
• As for singing, John can't hold a candle to Jane.

not hold a candle to

Idiom(s): not hold a stick to someone or something AND not hold a candle to someone or something

Theme: COMPARISON

not to be nearly as good as someone or something. (Informal.)
• 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.

Cake's not worth the candle

If someone says that the cake's not worth the candle, they mean that the result will not be worth the effort put in to achieve it.

burn the candle at both ends|both ends|burn|candle

v. phr. To work or play too hard without enough rest; get too tired. He worked hard every day as a lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he was burning the candle at both ends.

candle

BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS, GAME IS NOT WORTH THE CANDLE, HOLD A CANDLE.

game is not worth the candle|candle|game|not worth

literary What is being done is not worth the trouble or cost; the gain is not worth the effort. I don't want to walk so far on such a hot day. The game is not worth the candle.