the game is not worth the candle
Meaning: The effort or cost is greater than the reward.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Suing for such a small amount? The game is not worth the candle.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: A translation of the French saying. Card players had to pay for the candles lighting their game, which could cost more than the stakes won. It is used in English from the 17th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle — literally: The game is not worth the candle
More idioms — Daily Life
- be a third wheel — To be an unwanted extra person with a couple.
- have a seat at the table — To be included in the discussions where decisions are made.
- find Mr. Right — To find the ideal romantic partner.
- all roads lead to Rome — There are many ways to reach the same goal.
- shut up shop — To close a business, either for the day or for good.
- penny wise and pound foolish — Careful with small amounts of money but wasteful with large ones.
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.
From our tongue twisters
- 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…