le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle

French

Alternative forms

• le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle

Etymology

Literally, “the game is not worth the candle.” By analogy to a card game whose potential reward is so low that it is not worth lighting the candle needed to illuminate the table.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lə ʒø n‿ɑ̃ vo pa la ʃɑ̃.dɛl/, /lə ʒø n‿ɑ̃ vo pɑ la ʃɑ̃.dɛl/

Phrase

le jeu n’en vaut pas la chandelle

1. it's not worth it; there's no point; the game is not worth the candle

Descendants

• → English: the game is not worth the candle (calque)
• → Italian: il gioco non vale la candela (calque)
• → Russian: игра́ не сто́ит свеч (igrá ne stóit sveč) (calque)
• → Polish: gra nie jest warta świeczki (calque)
• → Ukrainian: гра не варта свічок (hra ne varta svičok) (calque)

See also

• économie de bouts de chandelle