Fig. not [to be] equal to someone; unable to measure up to someone. (Also with cannot.)Mary can't hold a candle to Ann when it comes to athletics.As for singing, John can't hold a candle to Jane.
if someone or something cannot hold a candle to someone or something else, they are not as good as that other person or thing These pop bands that you hear nowadays can't hold a candle to the groups we used to listen to in the sixties.