better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness
Even in the face of hopelessness and discontent, it is more worthwhile to do some good, however small, in response, than to complain about the situation.
candle
/ˈkændl̩/
noun 5verb 3
Collocations
8(noun.)
ADJ
lighted | flickering
VERB + CANDLE
light | blow out, snuff (out)
CANDLE + VERB
burn | flicker | go out
CANDLE + NOUN
flame
Definitions
noun
1
A light source consisting of a wick embedded in a solid, flammable substance such as wax, tallow, or paraffin.
light a candle
blow out the candles on the birthday cake
2
The protruding, removable portion of a filter, particularly a water filter.
3
A unit of luminous intensity, now replaced by the SI unit candela.
4
A fast-growing, light-colored, upward-growing shoot on a pine tree in the spring. As growth slows in summer, the shoot darkens and is no longer conspicuous.
5
Indicates how high or low church something is by height on the candle.
That vicar used to be an evangelical, but she's crept up the candle in recent years.
That’s why self-consciously Anglo-catholic churches which are a mile high up the paschal candle can do reasonably well in the current climate.
verb
1
To observe the growth of an embryo inside (an egg), using a bright light source.
2
To dry (greenware) prior to the firing cycle, setting the kiln at 200° Celsius until all water is removed from the greenware.
3
To check (an item, such as an envelope) by holding it between a light source and the eye.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
candle in the wind
A fragile or vulnerable thing, likely to be put in jeopardy.
A woman of flame, they had called her. The flame had flickered and died like a candle in the wind--in the restless trade-wind blowing from the Koolau Range.
burn the candle at both ends
To work hard night and day; to sleep late and wake up early; to overwork or overexert oneself.
Von Gerhard's face was unsmiling. “So,” he said, slowly. “You burn the candle at both ends. All day you write, is it not so? And at night you come home to write still more? Ach, Ki
better to light one candle than to curse the darkness
Alternative form of better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.
better to light a candle than to curse the darkness
Alternative form of better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness.
Example Bank
601
light a candle
Wiktionary02
blow out the candles on the birthday cake
Wiktionary03
snuff out the candle
Wiktionary04
Put out the candle. The blackout is over.
Tatoeba · #2945405
The candle has gone out.
Tatoeba · #2945506
The candle was blown out by the wind.
Tatoeba · #29456Usage Notes
i Register
In some senses, candle is marked as obsolete, idiomatic. Watch for register when choosing this word.
Your note
not saved0 chars