le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle

== French == === Alternative forms === le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle === Etymology === Literally, “the game is not worth the candle.” By analogy to a card game whose potential reward is so low that it is not worth lighting the candle needed to illuminate the table. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /lə ʒø n‿ɑ̃ vo pa la ʃɑ̃.dɛl/ ~ /lə ʒø n‿ɑ̃ vo pɑ la ʃɑ̃.dɛl/ === Phrase === le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle it's not worth it; there's no point; the game is not worth the candle ==== Descendants ==== → English: the game is not worth the candle (calque) → Italian: il gioco non vale la candela (calque) → Russian: игра́ не сто́ит свеч (igrá ne stóit sveč) (calque) → Polish: gra nie jest warta świeczki (calque) → Ukrainian: гра не варта свічок (hra ne varta svičok) (calque) ==== See also ==== économie de bouts de chandelle