A recent discussion opened these questions. What does it mean when it's said that ...something does not hold a candle to something else? What does a candle have to do with comparing? Also the saying ...I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck. Did it originate in a song? Just curious.
2007-02-12 05:50:02 · 12 answers · asked by Jan J 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
Hold a candle to it, means to shine light on it and compare.
2007-02-12 07:40:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The holding a candle......was the way they used to check if a wine was clear and bright. The only light they had was a candle, so they used to hold the candle behind the glass of wine. If it was very very good, it would have been an insult to hold a candle up to it. So, they would say "so & so is wonderful. You can't (or couldn't) hold a candle to it!
The bushel and a peck was sung by Doris Day in a western musical film. I forget the name now, but it might have been something like "Annie get your gun" or something similar.
Hope this helps, good luck!
2007-02-12 05:59:43 · answer #2 · answered by R.E.M.E. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'd have to hold a candle up to something to see the details...but is it worth burning an expensive candle to do this? Also, yes, a bushel and peck is from a child's sing-song...my uncle from Germany sang it to me, as a child. What about "the cat's pajamas"? or "fit to be tied"? I think those are funny expressions.
2007-02-12 05:56:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before electric lights, someone performing a task in the dark needed a helper to hold a candle to provide light while the task was performed. Much as a helper might hold a flashlight today.
Holding the candle is of course the less challenging role. Someone who is not even qualified to hold the candle is much less competent than the person performing the actual task.
2007-02-12 05:57:27 · answer #4 · answered by 2 good 2 miss 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bushel and peck saying is from a song, think its from Oklahoma, or one of those old style musicals.
the meaning of the candle saying, is that its now way as good as what its compaired to, but I'll watch to see if anyone knows the origins!
2007-02-12 05:56:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The candle thing comes from candling eggs. It's an old farmer's task to "candle" an egg, so he can see through it with the light to determine if it is a fertilized egg or not.
Bushel and a peck came from a 1940's song written by Frank Loesser for the play, "Guys & Dolls"...
I love you a bushel and peck
A bushel and peck and a hug around the neck
A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and a heap and I'm talking in my sleep
About you, about you
Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your pretty neck, I do
Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle oo
I love you a bushel and peck
A bushel and peck though you make my heart a wreck
Make my heart a wreck and you make my life a mess
Make my life a mess, yes
A mess of happiness
About you, about you
Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your pretty neck, I do
Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle oo
I love you a bushel and peck
A bushel and peck and it beats me all to heck
Beats me all to heck and I'll never tend the farm
Never tend the farm when I wanna keep my arm
About you, about you
Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your pretty neck, I do
Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle oo
2007-02-12 05:54:12 · answer #6 · answered by Gary D 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
These are some of my fav quotes. Enjoy!!! “The finish line is the beginning of a new race.” –unknown “We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another.” –Luciano de Crescenzo “The brave may never live forever, but the cautious never live.” –unknown “When you need me, but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me, but no longer need me, then I have to go.” – the film Nanny McPhee “Marriage has three rings: Engagement ring, Wedding ring and Suffering.” –unknown “There is no love sincerer than the love for food.” –G.B. Shaw “The belief of words and compassion are a better way even if it is slower than a gun.” -the film The Interpreter “Tears are words the heart can't express” -anonymous “I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.” - Mother Teresa “I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.” -Lucille Ball
2016-05-24 01:20:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some others:
Red sky at night - shepherd's delight
When cows in field are lain - rain
Loads of mangled car wreckage and dead bodies on the road - fog.
And remember, the grass is always greener when the boot's on the other foot (surely something wrong here?)
2007-02-12 09:21:09 · answer #8 · answered by stef555stef 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A rolling stone wasn't built in A day! or necessity is the mother of two in the bush! and so forth.shall I go on?
Cross proverbs!
2007-02-12 06:04:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Gary D has the best and only correct answer.
2007-02-12 06:23:59 · answer #10 · answered by Cream tea 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋