hold a candle to

“But I think it needs to twist the screws a lot more than this if it wants to hold a candle to last year's show.”

A new adaptation of horror master Stephen King's 1975 novel, "Salem's Lot," debuted on Max on Thursday to largely mixed reviews, with many online arguing that the reboot doesn't hold a candle to its literary and cinematic predecessors.

A large roll of non-stick tinfoil couldn't hold a candle to Mamma Mia actress Amanda Seyfried, who wore a shiny metallic gown featuring flower appliques.

But big city skiing comes with logistical challenges — Washington’s Cascades traffic doesn’t hold a candle to the Wasatch’s potential for grinding gridlock.

Not even the side that reached the Champions League final last season can hold a candle to the mesmeric finesse we have witnessed since August.