Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles Hi this is student Tutor Nick P and this is Idioms 277. The idiom today is cannot hold a candle to. So usually we mean somebody cannot hold a candle to somebody or something else. All right. So let's take a look at the note here. If someone says that a certain person or thing cannot hold a candle to someone or something else, it means that he or she or even it is not nearly as good or desirable as someone or something else or maybe even inferior to them or below them. That's what we mean. So somebody cannot hold a candle to someone. So yeah. People you know, with this phrase is actually pretty common. But some people I think, candle ? Why can't they hold a candle to him? What's the problem here ? What is this about a candle ? Okay. So let's continue here. The origin of this idea comes from the idea that in the sixteenth century this was considered a menial job . Like a low-level basic job. You know, Yeah. Because remember this was pre electricity. So if somebody was working at night , you know a very important person was working at night. And usually only a very important people did because most people just went to sleep. You know, they just lived mostly from sunrise to sunset. But if the other person was working late , somebody would have to maybe hold a candle. If somebody was doing some more technical or important work. So let's continue here. It was usually the job of an assistant who was helping someone to do more important work. The idea is that you are not qualified or good enough to even be an assistant. So if we say you can't even hold assistant, a candle to, it means you're not even qualified to be the assistant Never mind the more important person. Let alone the more important well artist. Maybe, maybe this was somebody was working for an artist holding a candle or a scientist or somebody like that. All right. Good. So let's just take a look. at it. We got three examples of how we may use it today. Example number one. The new remake of this movie is okay. But it cannot hold a candle to the original. So you might remember there was an original one. A number of years before. And you thought well that was much, much better than this movie. This movie was all right but that was exceptional or very good. All right . Number two here. When it comes to his skill, nobody can hold a candle to him. So again you're saying that this person is the best. Nobody's even close. Nobody's a close second. Yeah, and number three here. You are not as good as him or her. You cannot hold a candle to his talent. So maybe somebody was comparing himself. Somebody else saying no ,no. He's much better than you. So you say, yes you cannot hold a candle to him or her. Anyway, I hope you got it . hope it's clear. I hope it was informative. Thank you for your time. Bye=bye.
A2 US candle assistant qualified working artist job English Tutor Nick P Idioms (277) Cannot Hold a Candle to 17 0 anitawu12 posted on 2019/09/26 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary