tenir la chandelle
French
Etymology
Literally, to "hold the candle"
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /tə.niʁ la ʃɑ̃.dɛl/
Verb
tenir la chandelle
- to be the third wheel, to play gooseberry
Usage notes
This is not the equivalent of the English idiom hold a candle to.
Conjugation
- see tenir