Origin of Phrases - C
Can't hold a candle to
Meaning: To be far less competent or have far less skills than someone else.
Example: When it comes to performance, Corvette can't hold a candle to Porsche.
Origin: Before electric lights the primary source of artificial light was candles, and if one were doing delicate work after dark, it was best to have an assistant to hold the candle to maximize the usable light. "To hold a candle to," a phrase which first appeared around 1550, meant "to assist in a subordinate position," and if you were "not able to hold a candle to," it meant you were much less competent than the person performing the actual task.