not hold a candle to somebody

You couldn't hold a candle to him - not many of us could.

But out here, in the real world, you can't hold a candle to me.

"But the past doesn't hold a candle to what's going to be made in the future."

A few will hold candles, but the effect is lost in the television lights.

"And why were you holding a candle to the window?"

Well, and I've been holding a candle for him all that time.

Those trips didn't hold a candle to where she'd be going now.

Not even drugs, or fast cars can hold a candle to the power of the female form.

"This year will have a very hard time holding a candle to that," he said.

I'm going to prove to her once and for all that girls can't hold a candle to guys in the sports department.