can't hold a candle to someone/something
can't hold a candle to (someone or something)
Cannot compare to someone or something; is not nearly as good or desirable as someone or something. The sequel wasn't bad, but it can't hold a candle to the original. John's fast all right, but he can't hold a candle to Louise!
See also: candle, hold
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
can't hold a candle to someone/something
If you are comparing two people or things and you say that the first can't hold a candle to the second, you mean that the second is much better than the first. None of these teams can hold a candle to the sides led by Franz Beckenbauer in the early 70s. Newspapers, books and radio cannot hold a candle to television. Note: This expression suggests that the first person does not even deserve to hold a light to help the other person to see.
See also: candle, hold, someone, something
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- be/have done with somebody/something
- be in line with (someone or something)
- better of
- (someone or something) promises well
- bird has flown, the
- begin with
- begin with (someone or something)
- beware of
- beware of (someone or something)
- be rough on (someone or something)