Pronouncing the phraseology “The game is not worth the candle”, a person implies that the conceived business is unprofitable, unprofitable. This expression came to the Russian language from the past, having under it a real fact. But which one? It’s worth a deal.
Modern comic look at phraseologism
If today we invite young people to carry out such a 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 sum of money at the races go to the hippodrome by car. But along the way they have trouble, because of which they have to change the candles in the car. Perhaps, staying at home and not getting into the car with such a large company, this could have been avoided, but the hope of winning was significant enough, so the players decided to take a chance and leave the house without having to make a painstaking inspection of the car.
However, their calculations were incorrect: the gain was so small that they did not even pay for the repair of the vehicle. Therefore, the phrase "The game is not worth the candle" described the situation as accurately as possible.
Or maybe a situation is considered when a cynic treating love as 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, why the cynical womanizer’s expenditures were made senseless, his “player” was a fiasco!
Theater and phraseology
In principle, this explanation does not contradict the truth. Although to assert the fact that the expression "the game is not worth the candle" refers specifically to car repair, it will be wrong. Indeed, in those days when it appeared in speech, there were no cars yet. And electricity, by the way, too.
So, perhaps, the phraseology “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 acting of actors. Having spent a rather large amount on candles, the director of the theater discovered an almost empty treasury: the people did not show up for the performance in such a way that the proceeds from the sale of tickets could recoup the costs.
Synonyms for phrase
In principle, this option does not contradict the true meaning of phraseology. After all, the described situation accurately conveys the meaning of the expression: the performance did not bring benefits, was unprofitable, unprofitable. In such cases, it is often said that "the game is not worth the candle."
Many businessmen, considering some dubious offers and calculating future net incomes, also use such an expression as “Over the ocean, a heifer stands half a penny, but give a ruble for transportation”. This phraseologism in this situation can also serve as a synonym for 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 the game of cards. And if in the evening with small candles at the card table small bets were made or the game went with varying success, as a result of which none of the players received any significant gain, then the phrase clearly described the meaninglessness of the money spent on lighting.
Long ago, 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 revenues, it is unlikely that someone will restrain themselves from remembering a card game that did not bring money to its participants.
And what does it mean, “The game is worth the candle”, did anyone think? 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 phraseologism: the business that is planned is quite profitable, cost-effective, profitable. Or at least it will not lead 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 initiative. It’s like a good card game, when the winner of the big jackpot pays for the used candles during the evening pastime and does not remain in the loser.