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 ==== See also ==== dîner aux chandelles cinquième roue du carrosse