Etymology

hold a candle

hold a can·dle

Today it means: To compare; to be even remotely of the same quality, skill, etc. as another. Full definition →

First used mid 16th c.
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The story

From the custom of apprentices to a master holding a candle so that the master could see more clearly. The negative version implies that a person who was not fit even for such a simple task was worthless.

First known use, by meaning

  • from mid 16th c. To compare; to be even remotely of the same quality, skill, etc. as another.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.