IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishthe game is not worth the candle
Meaning: The effort or cost is greater than the reward.
Example: “Suing for such a small amount? The game is not worth the candle.”
Origin: A translation of the French le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle. Card players had to pay for the candles lighting their game, and these could cost more than the stakes won. Its first known English appearance is in John Florio's 1603 translation of Montaigne's Essays, as "the play is not worth the candle."
Equivalents in other languages
French: Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle Literally: The game is not worth the candle
Spanish: Sale más caro el collar que el perro Literally: The collar costs more than the dog
Italian: Il gioco non vale la candela Literally: The game isn't worth the candle
Japanese: 労多くして功少なし (Rō ōkushite kō sukunashi) Literally: Much toil, little merit
Dutch: Het sop is de kool niet waard Literally: The broth isn't worth the cabbage
Polish: Gra niewarta świeczki Literally: The game isn't worth the candle
Russian: Игра не стоит свеч (Igra ne stoit svech) Literally: The game isn't worth the candles
Chinese: 得不偿失 (Dé bù cháng shī) Literally: The gain doesn't make up for the loss
More English idioms
- like a bat out of hell Extremely fast.
- a snake-oil salesman A swindler who sells fake remedies or worthless solutions.
- it doesn't take a rocket scientist Something is easy to understand; no special intelligence is needed.
- do a moonlight flit To leave one's home secretly at night, usually to avoid paying rent or debts.
- pipped at the post To be beaten at the very last moment.
- twiddle one's thumbs To do nothing while waiting or out of boredom.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Unique New York. Three words that jam the 'y/n/k' sequence together — repeat it and it collapses into 'you…
- Pad kid poured curd pulled cod. Alternating repetition — the consonants swap at the start of every other word, which is w…
- Red lorry, yellow lorry. The 'l/r' alternation drill — deceptively short, yet almost impossible to say fast withou…
Keep exploring