Etymology:
- In the 16th century, a servant called as a “linkboy” held candles for people during the days of good lighting. This was an ordinary job assigned to poor or inferior ones. If linkboy didn’t know the route and direction of roads, he was called to be “not able to hold a candle to someone”. Thus, this idiom came into practice to refer the lower in rank people.
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Submitted on February 25, 2019
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Nearby phrases
Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Can't Hold a Candle To
Can't Get Blood from a Stonecan't helpcatch as catch cando you think you can walkcan you hear me looking at youcan you tell uscan you help mecan't put the words back into one&…can't make ends meetdon't drive faster than your guardian a…Can't Fight City Hallcan of corncan't see the forest for the treescan't seem
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"Can't Hold a Candle To." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/cant-hold-a-candle-to_44541>.
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