English / idiom
Can't Hold a Candle to Something or Someone
MEANING IN ENGLISH
To be substantially inferior to or nowhere near as good as another person or thing.
In context
01
This modern sequel can't hold a candle to the original masterpiece produced twenty years ago.
02
While he practices hard, his tennis serve can't hold a candle to the national champion's technique.
Synonyms
pale in comparison to,fall short of,be no match for
Antonyms
outshine,rival,surpass
Collocations
cannot hold a candle to,not hold a candle to,hardly hold a candle to