The idiom "hold a candle to the devil" originated from the Bible, where Satan is referred to as the “father of lies” (John 8:44). It also is also related to the practice of lighting candles in churches during religious services. The candles were lit to represent the presence of God, and it was considered a great sin to extinguish them. This expression is typically used to describe someone who is very evil or wicked.

What is the origin of the idiom "hold a candle to the Devil" and when to use it?

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to [hold] (a|the) candle to the Devil

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Definition und Bedeutung von „ hold a candle to the Devil“ im Englischen

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