- 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.
См. также в других словарях:
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
not worth the candle — Meaning Worthless. Origin So lacking in merit that it isn t worth using a candle to throw light on … Meaning and origin of phrases
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
the game is not worth the candle — it s not worth the effort … English contemporary 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
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
