Saying idiom "The game is not worth the candle", one assumes that the business plans profitable, unprofitable.It is expressed in the Russian language from the past, having at an actual fact.But what exactly?With this is sorted out.
comic look at modern idiom
If today offer young people to perform such a task: to describe the origin of the phrase "not worth the trouble" in a modern way, it is likely that someone will offer such an option.
Players who choose to win at the races a lot of money, go to the racetrack on the machine.But on the way they have trouble going on, because of which you have to change in the car candles.Maybe staying home and not getting into the car such a large company, it would have been avoided, but the hope of winning was enough weight, so the players have decided to take a chance and go out of the house without making a painstaking examination of the car.
However, their calculations were wrong: the gain was so small that not even paid for the repair of the vehicle.Hence the phrase "not worth it" could not be more accurately describe the situation.
Or maybe considered a situation where a cynic, referring to love as a game, to spend on candles for a romantic date.However, the lady (or failed dupe?) Proved intractable, why waste a cynical womanizer were made meaningless, his "igrach" fiasco!
Theatre and idiom
In principle, this explanation does not contradict truth.Although argued that the expression "not worth it" deals specifically with the repair of a vehicle, will be incorrect.After all, in those days, when it appeared in the speech it was not yet cars.And electricity, by the way, too.
So perhaps idiom "not worth it" occurred due to another event?For example, a candle, which is a conversation, used for lighting a theater stage and auditorium, and the word "game" is meant Mummery actors.Spending on candles quite a large sum, theater director found virtually empty treasury: the people did not come to the show in the amount that the proceeds from ticket sales means it would be possible to recoup the costs.
Synonymous options phrases
In principle, this variant is not contrary to the true value phraseologism.It described the situation quite accurately conveys the meaning of the phrase: the play did not bring benefits, it has been unprofitable Unprofitable.In such cases, often they say that "the game worth the candle not worth it."
Many businessmen, considering some dubious deals and proschityvaya future net revenues, and use an expression such as "Overseas heifer worth mite, but the ruble transportation for Give."This idiom in this situation can also be a synonym for the pro game and candles.
true origin of the phrase
However, most linguists are inclined to think that the etymology of this expression goes back to a game of cards.And if the evening when lit candles at the card table makes a small bet or a game came with varying degrees of success, in which none of the players did not get any significant payoff, the phrase could not be intelligibly described the meaninglessness of money spent on lighting.
a long time in the life of people had electricity, and the expression that came into the language of antiquity is still actively used in speech.When expenses exceed revenues, it is unlikely someone hold out, not to remember a card game, not the money which brought its participants.
What do you mean "worth it", somebody thought?Certainly, yes.Knowing the meaning of the expression "not worth it", it is easy to explain the meaning of its antonym.That is, considering this expression and its etymology, we can give such an explanation phraseologism: business that is planned, sufficiently profitable, cost-effective, profitable.Or at least will introduce human waste, pay off, in the truest sense of the expression means: the price of candles (costs) exceeds the winning (income), which in itself indicates the profitability of undertakings.It's like a good game of cards when he won a big jackpot pays for use candles during the evening pastime and not remain for nothing.
