What Is The Origin Can’T Hold A Candle To?

The phrase “can’t hold a candle to” is an idiomatic expression that means one person or thing is not nearly as good, talented, desirable, etc. as another person or thing being compared. In essence, it is used to say someone or something is inferior to someone or something else.

Earliest Known Uses

The phrase “can’t hold a candle to” was first recorded in writing in 1641, in Sir Edward Dering’s work The fower cardinal-vertues of a Carmelite fryar. In this early usage, it was part of the longer phrase “His wit cannot hold the candle to,” meaning someone’s intelligence or talent paled in comparison to another person. The candle imagery refers to the practice of assistants literally holding candles so more important people, like their masters, could see in the dark. So saying someone “can’t hold the candle” suggested they weren’t worthy or able enough to assist the superior person.[1]

In the 17th century when this phrase emerged, candles provided most indoor lighting. Candleholders would carry candles and follow people of high status to light their way. Saying someone wasn’t fit to hold the candle placed them below the elite upper classes in social rank and ability.[2]

The earliest known uses of “can’t hold a candle to” involved literally comparing people’s worth and status. But by the 1800s, it was being used more broadly to say something or someone was not nearly as good as something or someone else.

Literal Meaning

The literal meaning of “can’t hold a candle to” refers to holding up a candle in order to provide light. In the days before electricity, candles were a primary source of light. If someone could not “hold a candle” to another person, it meant they could not provide enough light or be as helpful in illuminating or assisting with a task.

Figuratively, this phrase means that one person or thing is far inferior to another. Just as a small candle does not provide as much useful light as a brighter light source, saying someone “can’t hold a candle to” another implies they lack the qualities, abilities, or value of the other person or thing being compared.

The candle itself represents a small source of light and assistance. Thus, not being able to “hold a candle” to something means you are far less capable, useful, talented, or valuable in the area being discussed.

Candlemaking History

The earliest known use of candles dates back to ancient civilizations when candles were a primary light source for homes. Candles were invented independently across many cultures using different materials. The earliest candle-like devices were made by the Ancient Egyptians who soaked the pithy core of reeds in melted animal fat to create rushlights or torches. The Ancient Romans are credited with developing true wicked candles using tallow rendered from cattle and sheep. In India, candles were made from wax derived from boiling cinnamon. In China, candles were made from whale fat and insect wax. In Japan, traditional candle making used waxes from tree nuts and seeds. Through the Middle Ages in Europe, candlemaking guilds carefully guarded their candle making techniques. Candles were mainly made from animal fats like tallow and beeswax until the early 19th century. Paraffin wax, distilled from petroleum, became the popular candle making material by the late 1800s. Modern candle making uses a variety of waxes, like soy, palm and beeswax. Today, candle making is both an artisanal craft and large scale manufacturing industry producing candles for functional lighting as well as decorative and aromatherapy purposes.

Stage Lighting History

Before electricity, candles were the primary source of lighting used in theatrical performances. According to A History of Lighting Design: From Sunlight to Stage Light, candles started being used in the court theatres of Italy in the late 1500s. Architect Sebastiano Serlio was one of the first to recognize the importance of lighting design in theatre and began experimenting with candle lighting. Candles remained the dominant lighting source in theatre until the late 18th century.

According to Lighting the stage: a history of early theater lighting technology, candles were the most popular and widely used stage lighting source until 1783, when the adjustable kerosene lamp was invented. Candlelight provided a soft, warm lighting effect for theatrical performances. The number, arrangement, and types of candles used would create different moods and lighting effects on stage. However, candles had limitations like fire hazards, irregular flickering flames, smoke, and inconvenience. The development of gas and electric lighting eventually replaced candles in theatre lighting.

Similar Idioms

There are several other idioms and phrases that involve candles, shedding light on the importance of candlelight before the advent of electricity:

The idiom “burn the candle at both ends” means to exhaust one’s energies or resources by leading an active or excessive lifestyle with little rest (Source: https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/candle). This refers to burning a candle at both the top and bottom wick simultaneously to provide light for a longer time, but causing the candle to be used up twice as fast.

“Bell, book and candle” refers to a method of excommunication by the Catholic Church. The phrase originated from the formal ceremony where a bishop would ring a bell, close a book and snuff out a lit candle to enact the excommunication (Source: https://www.phrases.org.uk/phrase-thesaurus/related/candle.html).

The phrase “not hold a candle to” means to not compare favorably to something else. This idiom likely refers to one candle not providing as much light as another, or being of inferior quality (Source: https://www.phrases.com/psearch/candle).

Use in Literature

The idiom “can’t hold a candle to” has been used in many famous literary works over the years. For example, in Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations, the character Wemmick says, “I don’t pretend to be what I’m not; I can’t hold a candle to you – indeed, I know my place.” This demonstrates Wemmick’s admission that he is inferior to the protagonist Pip.

The phrase also appears in James Joyce’s 1922 modernist novel Ulysses: “Talk about your middle class, he said. O, the whole trousers of them!… And hold a candle for the paralysers!” Here it is used humorously by the character Bloom.

Poet Ezra Pound utilized the idiom in his 1915 poem Sestina: Altaforte, writing: “No man can leap the tether round his feet, / Though a great man can drag them very far. / But when you’ve gone as far as you can go / And dammned if you can go any farther, / Then it’s time to set the thing. I say // You’ve got to prove your courage all over.” The phrase reinforces the idea that some limits cannot be surpassed.

More recently, author Donna Tartt used it in her 2013 novel The Goldfinch: “Mrs Barbour couldn’t hold a candle to her.” This comparison underscores the narrator’s preference for one woman over another.

Use in Pop Culture

The idiom “can’t hold a candle to” has appeared in various pop culture mediums over the years. In music, rapper Eminem uses it in his 2013 song “Rap God,” with the lyrics “Why be a king when you can be a god?” implying no mortal king can compare to a god. The country band Little Big Town also titled a song “Can’t Hold a Candle” in 2020.

On television, the phrase was used in episodes of shows like The Simpsons and Breaking Bad. In movies, it appears in the comedy Young Frankenstein when Marty Feldman’s Igor says “He’s going to be very popular” in reference to the monster, and Gene Wilder’s Dr. Frankensteins quips “Popular? You don’t suppose he could become so popular that people will say his name all the time – that they’ll make toys and dolls of him, huh? Little monster dolls for kids to play with?” Igor replies “Dolls, huh?” to which Dr. Frankenstein scoffs “Yeah, dolls. ‘Frankie says this, and Frankie says that.’ Can’t you just see it? Why, they’ll probably make movies and TV shows about him.” Igor smiles and declares “They couldn’t hold a candle to you, doctor.”

Overall, while not extremely common, the idiom has permeated pop culture over time as a colorful way to express superiority.

Modern Usage

The idiom “can’t hold a candle to” is still commonly used today to mean that someone or something is vastly inferior to another person or thing. While not as prevalent as some other idioms, it remains a colorful way to express the sentiment that something simply does not compare or measure up.

The phrase tends to be used more often in spoken English or informal writing rather than formal texts. It provides a vivid and hyperbolic way to convey that something is not nearly as good. The candle imagery emphasizes the vast difference in quality or ability between two things.

Some modern examples of its usage include:

• “The original Star Wars trilogy can’t hold a candle to the boring prequels.”
• “Your baking skills can’t hold a candle to your mother’s.”
• “That cheap knockoff handbag can’t hold a candle to the designer version.”

While not as ubiquitous as it once was, “can’t hold a candle to” endures as a colorful idiom to highlight the superiority of one person or thing over another in a hyperbolic fashion.

Conclusion

The idiom “can’t hold a candle to” has a long and interesting history dating back to the 16th century. It emerged from the literal use of candles for stage lighting, referring to one thing or person being not bright enough or good enough compared to another. Over time, it evolved into a commonly used figurative phrase to mean one thing is far inferior to something else.

While the specifics of its origin are debated, the general consensus is that it arose from the theater and referred to an understudy not being as good as the main actor. The candle imagery evoked the bright lights used to illuminate performers on the stage. Despite changes in lighting technology, this colorfully symbolic idiom has endured for centuries and remains a popular way to express the sentiment of one thing paling in comparison to another. When we say something “can’t hold a candle” to something else today, we are continuing a long tradition of using metaphorical candlelight to convey relative difference in quality or ability.