What is the meaning of the phrase 'I can't hold a candle to her?'?

Question

I know it means that the girl is prettier than the other one but what does it really mean?

Answer 1

It means u cant compare the girl in order to disgrace her.  

Answer 2

Meaning

To compare badly to an known authority - to be unfit even to hold a subordinate position.

Origin

Apprentices used to be expected to hold the candle so that more experienced workmen were able to see what they were doing. Someone unable even to do that would be of low status indeed.

Sir Edward Dering used a similar phrase 'to hold the candle' in his The fower cardinal-vertues of a Carmelite fryar, 1641:

"Though I be not worthy to hold the candle to Aristotle."

'To hold a candle' is first recorded in 1883 in William Norris's No New Thing:

"Edith is pretty, very pretty; but she can't hold a candle to Nellie."

Answer 3

It means you can't compare to her.

Answer 4

it means shes not into that kinky bondage pain stuff.

Answer 5

It means compared to any quality one may be observing you are saying that one person cannot come close to matching the same quality of that skill. It does not just refer to beauty or even to a female. It can be anyone or anything you are comparing.