Il vous doit une belle chandelle = He ought to be very grateful to you.
[An allusion to the custom of burning candles before the altars of Saints, as a mark of gratitude, considered due to them.]
Voir des chandelles (or, mille chandelles) = “To see stars.” (See [Étoile].)
Donner une chandelle à Dieu et une au diable = To try and keep in with both parties.
Le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle = The game is not worth the candle; It is not worth while.
[i.e., when the stakes are not sufficient to pay for the candle burnt during the game.]
*C’est une économie de bouts de chandelle = That is penny-wise and pound-foolish; That is spoiling the ship for a ha’porth (halfpennyworth) of tar; That is a cheese-paring policy.
Brûler la chandelle par les deux bouts = To burn the candle at both ends.
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