Not worth the candle

Not worth the candle
Candle Can"dle, n. [OE. candel, candel, AS, candel, fr. L. candela a (white) light made of wax or tallow, fr. cand["e]re to be white. See {Candid}, and cf. {Chandler}, {Cannel}, {Kindle}.] 1. A slender, cylindrical body of tallow, containing a wick composed of loosely twisted linen of cotton threads, and used to furnish light. [1913 Webster]

How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Note: Candles are usually made by repeatedly dipping the wicks in the melted tallow, etc. (``dipped candles''), or by casting or running in a mold. [1913 Webster]

2. That which gives light; a luminary. [1913 Webster]

By these blessed candles of the night. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Candle nut}, the fruit of a euphorbiaceous shrub ({Aleurites triloba}), a native of some of the Pacific islands; -- socalled because, when dry, it will burn with a bright flame, and is used by the natives as a candle. The oil has many uses.

{Candle power} (Photom.), illuminating power, as of a lamp, or gas flame, reckoned in terms of the light of a standard candle.

{Electric candle}, A modification of the electric arc lamp, in which the carbon rods, instead of being placed end to end, are arranged side by side, and at a distance suitable for the formation of the arc at the tip; -- called also, from the name of the inventor, {Jablockoff candle}.

{Excommunication by inch of candle}, a form of excommunication in which the offender is allowed time to repent only while a candle burns.

{Not worth the candle}, not worth the cost or trouble.

{Rush candle}, a candle made of the pith of certain rushes, peeled except on one side, and dipped in grease.

{Sale by inch of candle}, an auction in which persons are allowed to bid only till a small piece of candle burns out.

{Standard candle} (Photom.), a special form of candle employed as a standard in photometric measurements; usually, a candle of spermaceti so constructed as to burn at the rate of 120 grains, or 7.8 grams, per hour.

{To curse by bell, book and candle}. See under {Bell}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • not worth the candle — chiefly Brit old fashioned : not worth the necessary effort, cost, or trouble The car is so old that replacing the engine is not worth the candle. [=the effort isn t worth the cost] • • • Main Entry: ↑candle not worth the candle see ↑candle • • • …   Useful english dictionary

  • not worth the candle — ► not worth the candle not justifying the cost or trouble involved. Main Entry: ↑candle …   English terms dictionary

  • the game is not worth the candle — The thing is not worth the effort or expense required • • • Main Entry: ↑candle the game is not worth the candle see under ↑candle • • • Main Entry: ↑game …   Useful english dictionary

  • (the game is) not worth the candle — (the game is) not worth the ˈcandle idiom (old fashioned, saying) the advantages to be gained from doing sth are not great enough, considering the effort or cost involved • If the price goes up again, he may decide that the game s not worth the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • (the) game is not worth the candle — the game is/it is/not worth the candle british old fashioned phrase something is not worth doing because it is too much trouble or effort, or costs too much Thesaurus: ways of saying that something has little or no valuesynonym Main entry …   Useful english dictionary

  • (the game's) not worth the candle — the potential advantages to be gained from doing something do not justify the cost or trouble involved. → candle …   English new terms dictionary

  • it is not worth the candle — the game is/it is/not worth the candle british old fashioned phrase something is not worth doing because it is too much trouble or effort, or costs too much Thesaurus: ways of saying that something has little or no valuesynonym Main entry …   Useful english dictionary

  • the game is not worth the candle — it s not worth the effort …   English contemporary dictionary

  • cake's not worth the candle — If someone says that the cake s not worth the candle, they mean that the result will not be worth the effort put in to achieve it …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • cake/game is not worth the candle —    To say that the cake (or the game) is not worth the candle means that the advantages to be gained from doing something are not worth the effort involved.     He recorded an album but sold very few copies; the cake wasn t worth the candle …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

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