hold a candle for someone—(also: carry the torch for someone) retain admiration or love for a person (especially if the feeling is not mutual):
- He still holds a candle for Jennifer, and in the jungle he must’ve thought of her a lot.
hold a candle to someone—(usually negative) be fit or worthy to be compared with another person:
- Edith is pretty, very pretty; but she can’t hold a candle to Nellie.