hold a candle to

hold a candle to also hold a stick to {v. phr.}

To be fit to be compared with; be in the same class with. — A trite phrase used in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences.

Henry thought that no modern ball club could hold a candle to those of 50 years ago.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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candle

[candle] See: [BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS], [GAME IS NOT WORTH THE CANDLE], [HOLD A CANDLE TO]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

hold water

[hold water] {v. phr.} 1. To keep water without leaking. * /That pail still holds water./ 2. {informal} To prove true; stand testing; bear examination. - Usually used in negative, […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

lay hold of

[lay hold of] {v. phr.} 1. To take hold of; grasp; grab. * /He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore./ 2. To get possession of. * […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

hold on to

[hold on to] {v. phr.} 1a. or [hold to] To continue to hold or keep; hold tightly. * /When Jane played horse with her father, she held on to him […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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