This game is not worth the candle. The game is not worth the candle - meaning. Synonymous variants of the phrase
Nowadays, the expression "the game is not worth the candle" is very common. Only few people thought about what exactly it means.
Etymology of the expression
In the 21st century, electricity is widespread, so there are no problems with lighting, which cannot be said about the 19th, 18th, 17th, ...th centuries. They used to use candles in the evening and at night.
But before, as now, gambling was widespread:
- azo (card game using a deck of 28 cards),
- azar - old game in the bones
- Basseta - a card game with special cards, was invented in Italy in the 15th century,
- Poker is a card game that has many varieties. The first mention of the game was more than 500 years ago in Italy.
- There were also various lotteries and a huge variety of other gambling games.
The most convenient time after a hard day's work for those who like to play for money was evening and night. Gambling took place under candlelight. Its result was different - there were huge wins or losses, and it happened that the result was almost zero. Because of the meager income, there would not even be enough money to buy new candles to replace those that burned out. From there, an expression appeared that is still relevant in our time. The meaning is the discrepancy between the outcome and the funds spent.
Saying the phraseological unit “The game is not worth the candle”, a person implies that the conceived business is unprofitable, unprofitable. This expression came into the Russian language from the past, having a real fact under it. But which one? This is worth dealing with.
A modern comic look at phraseology
If today we offer young people the following task: to describe the origin of the phrase "The game is not worth the candle" in a modern manner, then it is likely that someone will offer such an option.
Players who decide to win a large amount of money at the races go to the racetrack by car. But on the way, they have a nuisance, because of which they have to change the candles in the car. Perhaps staying at home and not getting into a car like this big company, this could have been avoided, but the hope of winning was quite significant, so the players decided to take a chance and leave the house without making a painstaking inspection of the car.
However, their calculations turned out to be incorrect: the gain was so small that it did not even pay for the repairs. vehicle. Therefore, the phrase "The game is not worth the candle" most accurately described the situation.
Or maybe consider a situation where a cynic who treats love like a game spent money on candles for a romantic date. However, the lady of the heart (or the failed victim of deceit?) turned out to be intractable, which is why the expenses of the cynical ladies' man were made senseless, his "player" failed!
Theater and phraseology
In principle, this explanation does not contradict the truth. Although it would be incorrect to assert that the expression “The game is not worth the candle” refers specifically to car repairs. Indeed, in those days when it appeared in speech, there were no cars yet. Yes, and electricity, by the way, too.
So, perhaps the phraseological unit “The game is not worth the candle” happened due to another event? Suppose the candles in question were used to illuminate the theater stage and the auditorium, and the word “game” meant the acting of actors. Having spent a rather large amount on candles, the director of the theater found an almost empty treasury: the people did not show up for the performance in such a quantity that the proceeds from the sale of tickets could recoup the costs.
Synonymous variants of the phrase
In principle, this option does not contradict the true meaning of the phraseological unit. After all, the situation described quite accurately conveys the meaning of the expression: the performance did not bring benefits, it was unprofitable, unprofitable. In such cases, they often say that "the game is not worth the candle."
Many businessmen, considering some dubious proposals and calculating future net income, also use such an expression as “Across the ocean, a heifer costs a half, but give a ruble for transportation.” This phraseological unit in this situation can also serve as a synonym for the expression about the game and candles.
The true origin of the phrase
However, most linguists are inclined to believe that the etymology of this expression goes back to playing cards. And if in the evening, with lit candles at the card table, small bets were made or the game went on with varying success, as a result of which none of the players received any significant gain, then the phrase most intelligibly described the meaninglessness of the money spent on coverage.
For a long time, electricity appeared in people's lives, and the expression that came into the language from antiquity is still actively used in speech. When costs exceed income, hardly anyone can resist not to remember card game, which did not bring money to its participants.
And what does “The game is worth the candle” mean, did anyone think? For sure, yes. Knowing the meaning of the expression "The game is not worth the candle", it is easy to explain the meaning of its antonym. That is, considering this expression and its etymology, one can give such an explanation to the phraseological unit: the business that is planned is quite profitable, cost-effective, profitable. Or at least it will not introduce a person into waste, it will pay off, in the literal sense, the expression means: the price of candles (costs) will not exceed the gain (income), which in itself already means the profitability of the undertaking. What is it like good game into the cards when the winner big score pays for used candles during the evening pastime and does not remain in the loser.
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Over the centuries, expressions and phrases that are now considered obsolete have entered the Russian language. However, due to the fact that they are still quite actively used, many are interested in knowing their true meaning and even origin. Be sure to "bookmark" us so that this site is always at your fingertips. Today we will talk about a rather mysterious phrase, this It is not worth it, the meaning of which you will find below.
However, before I continue decoding, I would like to draw your attention to a couple more popular news on the topic of phraseological units. For example, what does it mean To sharpen the laces; how to understand In all Ivanovskaya; what does Man mean wolf to man; what is Pandora's Box, etc.
So let's continue what does the game is worth the candle?
It is not worth it- means that the funds or efforts spent on something are not justified by the result obtained
The game is worth the candle- means that the case justifies itself, and is worth the money spent on it
Let's try to analyze this expression in more detail, to find out, so to speak, all its ins and outs. In Russian, the word " candle", there are several meanings, for example, it is used to measure the strength of lighting, it is also a special technical device that gives a spark and is used in internal combustion engines. Therefore, it is not entirely clear what kind of candles we are talking about here.
If we dig deeper, it turns out that at a time when people lived without electricity and warm closets, all the lighting in the house was made with the help of candles. This was the easiest and cheapest way, although he had alternatives at that time.
People have their vices, and try to escape from everyday problems, doing various useful and not very things. Some preferred to make a game of cards as their hobby, and they played after work, in the dark, and this game was covered exclusively candles.
Although these "lighting devices" were not very expensive, they were still worth the money, and when the game was "small", people won small amounts that did not even pay off the candles. It was then that the expression "The game is not worth the candle" was born, that is, less money was put on the line than the entire total cost of the candles burned out during this time.
Today, this phrase has become so "ingrained" into our language that we use it without hesitation. Many people use this proverb along with a similar one - " not worth the tanning", and the like. They all have an almost identical meaning, that the conceived business is not worth the effort expended on it or will not pay for it.
Some researchers claim that this proverb was borrowed from the French language " Le jeu ne vaut pas is chandelle", and most likely they are right. Indeed, in the century before last, the majority of our elite energetically "fapaled" to Western, or rather French values. This French turn of speech came not only to us, but also to many European languages.
True, now no one argues about the origin of "The game is not worth the candle", since this proverb is still very outdated.
After reading this short post, you have learned The game is not worth the candle phraseologism, and now you won’t get into a mess when you hear this strange phrase again.
) - a saying about an empty, unprofitable business that does not justify the money spent, efforts ( Dictionary , 1935-1940).
This game is not worth the candle (section - "Tolk - Stupid");
The game is not worth the candle (section "Good - bad").
The expression came to us from French as a translation of the phrase "le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle". It was first used by the French writer Michel de Montaigne in 1580.
The expression was first used among gamblers and meant playing at such a low rate that the winnings did not cover the cost of candles that burned during the game to illuminate the gaming hall.
The expression also applies to English language- game is not worth the candle, the. Quoted in the American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer, 1992 (also citing Michel Montana).
Examples
(1880 - 1932)
"The Road to Nowhere", 1929:
"It must be, having quenched their passion, both realized that it is not worth it."
(1860 - 1904)
"" (1891), ch. XVI:
"Get on trial because of Laevsky, waste time - not worth the candle."
"" (1886) - a husband says to his wife's lover:
"I tell you frankly: don't give a damn! It is not worth it. She lied to you all and as a "sufferer" is not worth a penny. Balzac mistress and psychopath. Silly and lies a lot. Honestly, dove! I am not kidding..."
"You want to devote yourself entirely to the stage - that's good and the game is worth the candle and candle game, but... do you have enough strength?"
