candle

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

Hold a candle. To hold a candle to one, is to wait on him. Hence, 'yon are not fit to hold a candle to him,' is equivalent to, you are not fit to be even his servant; or not to be compared to him.

I have heard in my time a good many men speak French, but I never see the man yet who could hold a candle to the Prince de Joinville. It was like lightnin', jist one long-endurin' streak. It was beautiful, but I couldn't understand it, it was so everlastin' fast.--Sam Slick in England, ch. 22.

Talking about the popularity and glory of his administration--"Why," says the General, "nothing can hold a candle to it."--Maj. Downing's Letters, p. 233.

Related Words

Candle
·noun That which gives light; a luminary. II. Candle ·noun A slender, cylindrical body of tallow, c...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
Candle
Heb. ner, Job 18:6; 29:3; Ps. 18:28; Prov. 24:20, in all which places the Revised Version and margin...

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Candle coal
·- ·see Cannel coal. ...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
Candle foot
·add. ·- The illumination produced by a British standard candle at a distance of one foot; — used a...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
Candle meter
·add. ·- The illumination given by a standard candle at a distance of one meter; — used as a unit o...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
Candle power
·add. ·- Illuminating power, as of a lamp, or gas flame, reckoned in terms of the light of a standar...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
Foot candle
·add. ·- The amount of illumination produced by a standard candle at a distance of one foot. ...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
Candle House
Messuage west of the Brick House called the "Candle Howse" within the site of the late priory or new...

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.
candle-nut
n. The name is given in Queenslandto the fruit of Aleurites moluccana, Willd., N.O. Euphorbiaceae. ...

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
nut, candle
n. See candle-nut. ...

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
candle-bark
A cylindrical tin box for candles. ...

The Sailor's Word-Book
bell, book, and candle
They cursed him with bell, book, and candle; an allusion to the popish form of excommunicating and a...

Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
thief in a candle
Part of the wick or snuff, which falling on the tallow, burns and melts it, and causing it to gutter...

Dictionary of The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose