Expressions meaning that one man’s ability is not nearly as great as another man’s: “John can’t (or doesn’t, or isn’t) ________ Bill.” [Early QRs: Other ways of saying John is not as good as Bill: “John ________ Bill.”]
| HOLD A CANDLE TO | 148 |
| HOLD A CANDLE | 110 |
| MEASURE UP TO | 109 |
| CAN’T HOLD A CANDLE TO | 98 |
| COME UP TO | 63 |
| CAN’T COME UP TO | 55 |
| ISN’T AS GOOD AS | 53 |
| DOESN’T COME UP TO | 49 |
| MATCH | 44 |
| DOESN’T MEASURE UP TO | 43 |
| COMPARE | 31 |
| NR | 30 |
| CAN’T COMPARE | 28 |
| COMPARE TO | 27 |
| COMPARE WITH | 26 |
| ISN’T LIKE | 26 |
| ISN’T EQUAL TO | 25 |
| ISN’T UP TO | 25 |
| CAN’T EQUAL | 24 |
| STAND UP TO | 24 |
| CAN’T COMPARE TO | 23 |
| DOESN’T EQUAL | 23 |
| DOESN’T HOLD A CANDLE TO | 23 |
| ISN’T AS SMART AS | 21 |
| CAN’T COMPARE WITH | 19 |
| CAN’T COMPETE WITH | 19 |
| CAN’T MATCH | 19 |
| CAN’T MEASURE UP TO | 19 |
| EQUAL | 19 |
| DOESN’T COMPARE WITH | 18 |
| HOLD A LIGHT TO | 18 |
| ISN’T AS CAPABLE AS | 18 |
| CAN’T BEAT | 17 |
| ISN’T A MATCH FOR | 17 |
| DOESN’T COMPARE TO | 16 |
| CAN’T OUTDO | 15 |
| CAN’T HOLD A LIGHT TO | 14 |
| CAN’T TOP | 14 |
| DOESN’T COMPARE | 14 |
| STACK UP TO | 14 |
| CAN’T KEEP UP WITH | 13 |
| DOESN’T HOLD A CANDLE | 13 |
| DOESN’T MATCH | 13 |
| ISN’T HALF THE MAN BILL IS | 13 |
| BEAT | 11 |
| CAN’T TOUCH | 11 |
| CAN’T STAND UP TO | 10 |
| COMPETE WITH | 10 |
| DOESN’T HOLD A LIGHT TO | 10 |
| DOESN’T STACK UP TO | 8 |
| ISN’T A PATCH ON | 8 |
| ISN’T THE MAN BILL IS | 8 |
| TOUCH | 8 |
| CAN’T KEEP UP TO | 6 |
| ISN’T AS BRIGHT AS | 6 |
| KEEP UP WITH | 6 |
| CAN’T COME NEAR | 5 |
| CAN’T COME UP WITH | 5 |
| COME CLOSE TO | 5 |
| DOESN’T BEAT | 5 |
| EQUAL TO | 5 |
| ISN’T | 5 |
| ISN’T AS SHARP AS | 5 |
| OUTDO | 5 |
| CAN’T DO AS GOOD AS | 4 |
| CAN’T DO AS WELL AS | 4 |
| DOESN’T STAND UP TO | 4 |
| DOESN’T TOP | 4 |
| DOESN’T WORK AS WELL AS | 4 |
| ISN’T HALF AS GOOD AS | 4 |
| TOP | 4 |
| DO AS WELL AS | 3 |
| DOESN’T DO AS WELL AS | 3 |
| DOESN’T EXCEED | 3 |
| DOESN’T MEASURE UP | 3 |
| DOESN’T OUTDO | 3 |
| DOESN’T RATE WITH | 3 |
| HALF THE MAN BILL IS | 3 |
| ISN’T A MATCH | 3 |
| ISN’T AS GREAT AS | 3 |
| ISN’T BETTER THAN | 3 |
| ISN’T COMPARABLE | 3 |
| ISN’T IN THE SAME CLASS | 3 |
| ISN’T THE MAN THAT BILL IS | 3 |
| KEEP UP TO | 3 |
| CAN’T DO WHAT BILL CAN | 2 |
| CAN’T DO WHAT BILL DOES | 2 |
| CAN’T EXCEL | 2 |
| CAN’T MEASURE UP | 2 |
| CAN’T OUTSHINE | 2 |
| COME ANYWHERE NEAR | 2 |
| COME NEAR | 2 |
| COPE WITH | 2 |
| DO AS MUCH AS | 2 |
| DOESN’T COME NEAR | 2 |
| DOESN’T HAVE THE ABILITY BILL DOES | 2 |
| DOESN’T KNOW AS MUCH AS | 2 |
| DOESN’T MATCH UP TO | 2 |
| HALF AS GOOD AS | 2 |
| HOLD A MATCH TO | 2 |
| HOLD LIGHT TO | 2 |
| IS NO MATCH FOR | 2 |
| ISN’T A PATCHIN’ TO | 2 |
| ISN’T AS ABLE AS | 2 |
| ISN’T AS ACCOMPLISHED AS | 2 |
| ISN’T AS CLEVER AS | 2 |
| ISN’T AS COMPETENT AS | 2 |
| ISN’T AS FAST AS | 2 |
| ISN’T AS GOOD A MAN AS | 2 |
| ISN’T AS HANDY AS | 2 |
| ISN’T IN IT WITH | 2 |
| ISN’T NEAR AS GOOD AS | 2 |
| ISN’T NEARLY AS GOOD AS | 2 |
| ISN’T ON A PAR WITH | 2 |
| ISN’T THE EQUAL OF | 2 |
| MEASURE | 2 |
| THE MAN | 2 |
| WORK LIKE | 2 |
| AIN’T AS (ADJECTIVE OF APPROBATION) AS | 1 |
| AIN’T AS GOOD AS | 1 |
| AIN’T HALF THE MAN BILL IS | 1 |
| AIN’T IN BILL’S CLASS | 1 |
| AIN’T SO GOOD AS | 1 |
| BEGIN TO COMPARE | 1 |
| BEGIN TO MEASURE UP TO | 1 |
| BEST | 1 |
| BETTER | 1 |
| BILL IS TEN TIMES BETTER | 1 |
| CAN COMPARE | 1 |
| CAN MAKE CIRCLES AROUND | 1 |
| CAN’T APPROACH | 1 |
| CAN’T BE EQUAL TO | 1 |
| CAN’T CARRY HIS JOCKSTRAP | 1 |
| CAN’T CARRY NAILS FOR | 1 |
| CAN’T CARRY THE LIGHT THAT BILL CARRIES | 1 |
| CAN’T CATCH UP WITH | 1 |
| CAN’T COME UP TO PAR WITH | 1 |
| CAN’T COPE WITH | 1 |
| CAN’T CUT THE BUCK LIKE | 1 |
| CAN’T DO AS MUCH AS | 1 |
| CAN’T DO HALF AS MUCH AS | 1 |
| CAN’T DO IT | 1 |
| CAN’T DO LIKE | 1 |
| CAN’T DO NEAR AS MUCH AS | 1 |
| CAN’T DO NEAR AS WELL AS | 1 |
| CAN’T DO THAT NEARLY AS WELL AS | 1 |
| CAN’T DO THE WORK BILL CAN | 1 |
| CAN’T DO WHAT BILL CAN ACCOMPLISH | 1 |
| CAN’T EXCEED | 1 |
| CAN’T FILL BILL’S SHOES | 1 |
| CAN’T FILL IN WITH | 1 |
| CAN’T FILL THE BILL | 1 |
| CAN’T FOLLOW CLOSE TO | 1 |
| CAN’T GET AHEAD OF | 1 |
| CAN’T HACK IT | 1 |
| CAN’T HOLD A MATCH TO | 1 |
| CAN’T HOLD A PATCH TO | 1 |
| CAN’T HOLD HIM A CANDLE | 1 |
| CAN’T HOLD HIM A CANDLE LIGHT TO | 1 |
| CAN’T HOLD HIS OWN WITH | 1 |
| CAN’T ICKLE TO | 1 |
| CAN’T MATCH UP TO | 1 |
| CAN’T MATCH UP WITH | 1 |
| CAN’T MATCH WITS WITH | 1 |
| CAN’T MEET UP WITH | 1 |
| CAN’T NEAR COME UP TO | 1 |
| CAN’T NEARLY MATCH | 1 |
| CAN’T OUTDISTANCE | 1 |
| CAN’T OUTWEIGH | 1 |
| CAN’T PERFORM LIKE | 1 |
| CAN’T PUT A PATCH ON | 1 |
| CAN’T PUT IT OVER LIKE | 1 |
| CAN’T PUT OUT LIKE | 1 |
| CAN’T REACH | 1 |
| CAN’T STACK UP TO | 1 |
| CAN’T STAND A CHANCE | 1 |
| CAN’T STAND AGAINST | 1 |
| CAN’T STAND NEXT TO | 1 |
| CAN’T STAND UP TO BILL | 1 |
| CAN’T SURPASS | 1 |
| CAN’T TAKE | 1 |
| CAN’T THINK AS GOOD AS | 1 |
| CAN’T TIE A CANDLE TO | 1 |
| CAN’T TOUCH A CANDLE TO | 1 |
| CAN’T TOUCH A MATCH TO | 1 |
| CAN’T TOUCH HIM WITH A POLE | 1 |
| CAN’T WIN OVER | 1 |
| CAN’T WORK LIKE | 1 |
| CAN’T WORK SO GOOD AS | 1 |
| CARRY A CANDLE TO | 1 |
| COME CLOSE | 1 |
| COME NEAR TO | 1 |
| COME UP TO BILL’S MATCH | 1 |
| COME UP TO HIS STANDARD | 1 |
| COME UP WITH | 1 |
| COME WITHIN A SHOOTING MILE OF | 1 |
| COMPARED TO | 1 |
| COULD NEVER FILL BILL’S SHOES | 1 |
| COULDN’T CARRY BILL’S SHOES | 1 |
| COULDN’T HOLD A CANDLE | 1 |
| COULDN’T LICK BILL’S SHOES | 1 |
| CUT THE MUSTARD | 1 |
| CUT THE MUSTARD WITH | 1 |
| DO AS GOOD AS | 1 |
| DO HALF AS WELL AS | 1 |
| DO IT AS WELL AS | 1 |
| DO LIKE BILL CAN | 1 |
| DO NEARLY AS MUCH AS | 1 |
| DO THE THINGS THAT BILL CAN DO | 1 |
| DO THE WORK THAT BILL CAN DO | 1 |
| DO THINGS LIKE | 1 |
| DOES MATCH | 1 |
| DOESN’T ACCOMPLISH | 1 |
| DOESN’T AMOUNT TO | 1 |
| DOESN’T BEAT OUT | 1 |
| DOESN’T BEGIN TO COMPETE WITH | 1 |
| DOESN’T COME CLOSE TO | 1 |
| DOESN’T COME TO | 1 |
| DOESN’T COME UP TO HIS MEASURE | 1 |
| DOESN’T COME UP WITH | 1 |
| DOESN’T COMPETE WITH | 1 |
| DOESN’T COMPREHEND | 1 |
| DOESN’T DO AS GOOD AS | 1 |
| DOESN’T DO IT AS WELL AS | 1 |
| DOESN’T DO THAT LIKE HE DOES | 1 |
| DOESN’T EQUAL TO | 1 |
| DOESN’T EVEN COMPARE | 1 |
| DOESN’T EXCEL | 1 |
| DOESN’T FILL HIS SHOES | 1 |
| DOESN’T HAVE AS MUCH ON THE BALL | 1 |
| DOESN’T HAVE THE ABILITY | 1 |
| DOESN’T HAVE THE KNOW-HOW | 1 |
| DOESN’T HAVE THE SKILL HE DOES | 1 |
| DOESN’T HAVE THE WHEREWITH TO GO WITH | 1 |
| DOESN’T HAVE WHAT BILL’S GOT | 1 |
| DOESN’T HOLD UP HIS END | 1 |
| DOESN’T KNOW HOW LIKE | 1 |
| DOESN’T LIVE UP TO | 1 |
| DOESN’T MATCH UP WITH | 1 |
| DOESN’T MEET UP WITH | 1 |
| DOESN’T OUTSHINE | 1 |
| DOESN’T OUTSTAND | 1 |
| DOESN’T RATE AS HIGH AS | 1 |
| DOESN’T RATE BILL | 1 |
| DOESN’T REACH | 1 |
| “DOESN’T SAVVY, BUT BILL KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND” | 1 |
| DOESN’T SHAPE UP WITH | 1 |
| DOESN’T STACK UP | 1 |
| DOESN’T SURPASS | 1 |
| DOESN’T THINK LIKE | 1 |
| DOESN’T TOUCH | 1 |
| DOESN’T WORK LIKE | 1 |
| DOESN’T WORK SO GOOD AS | 1 |
| DON’T COMPARE | 1 |
| DON’T COMPARE WITH | 1 |
| DON’T DO AS WELL AS | 1 |
| DON’T HOLD A CANDLE | 1 |
| DON’T HOLD A CANDLE WITH | 1 |
| DON’T HOLD A LIGHT TO | 1 |
| DON’T HOLD UP A CANDLE | 1 |
| DON’T KNOW MUCH | 1 |
| DON’T MATCH UP TO | 1 |
| DON’T MEASURE UP | 1 |
| DON’T MEASURE UP TO | 1 |
| DON’T STAND AS TALL AS | 1 |
| EXCEL | 1 |
| FILL BILL’S SHOES | 1 |
| FILL THE BILL | 1 |
| HAS GOT IT ALL OVER BILL | 1 |
| HAS MORE SAVVY THAN | 1 |
| HASN’T GOT AS MUCH ON THE BALL AS | 1 |
| HASN’T GOT NEAR AS MUCH SENSE AS | 1 |
| HASN’T GOT THE KNACK BILL HAS | 1 |
| HASN’T GOT THE PUSH | 1 |
| HASN’T GOT THE STAMINA | 1 |
| HASN’T THE KNOW-HOW | 1 |
| HE COULDN’T MAKE THE PRINT OF HIS ASS IN THE SAND | 1 |
| HE COULDN’T TIE HIS SHOELACE | 1 |
| HE’S NOT TO COMPARE TO | 1 |
| HOLD | 1 |
| HOLD A CANDLE FOR | 1 |
| HOLD A LIGHT FOR | 1 |
| HOLD A PATCH TO | 1 |
| HOLD A SHADOW TO | 1 |
| HOLD A TORCH TO | 1 |
| HOLD HIM A CANDLE LIGHT | 1 |
| HOLD LIGHT FOR | 1 |
| HOLD WATER TO | 1 |
| IS A BETTER HAND | 1 |
| IS BETTER THAN | 1 |
| IS HALF THE MAN | 1 |
| IS INFERIOR TO | 1 |
| IS MORE CAREFUL THAN | 1 |
| IS MORE CONSCIENTIOUS THAN | 1 |
| IS MORE PARTICULAR THAN | 1 |
| IS MORE RELIABLE THAN | 1 |
| IS MORE THOROUGH THAN | 1 |
| IS NO COMPARISON TO | 1 |
| IS NOT AS GOOD AS | 1 |
| IS NOT AS SMART AS | 1 |
| IS NOT EQUAL TO | 1 |
| IS NOT IN BILL’S CLASS | 1 |
| IS NOT ON HIS LEVEL | 1 |
| IS NOT THE MAN THAT BILL IS | 1 |
| IS NOT UP TO | 1 |
| IS THE SAME AS | 1 |
| ISN’T A FIRST CLASS CARPENTER | 1 |
| ISN’T A MATCH TO | 1 |
| ISN’T A MEASURE OF | 1 |
| ISN’T A MEET FOR | 1 |
| ISN’T A PATCH ON BILL’S ASS | 1 |
| ISN’T A SPORT LIKE | 1 |
| ISN’T ANY COMPARISON TO | 1 |
| ISN’T ANY MATCH FOR | 1 |
| ISN’T ANY PART OF | 1 |
| ISN’T ANYTHING LIKE | 1 |
| ISN’T ANYWHERE NEAR EQUAL | 1 |
| ISN’T AS APT AS BILL | 1 |
| ISN’T AS EFFICIENT AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AS GOOD AT IT AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AS HANDY | 1 |
| ISN’T AS HEP AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AS HEP TO IT AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AS INTELLIGENT AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AS KEEN AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AS KINKY | 1 |
| ISN’T AS QUICK AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AS STRONG AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AS TALENTED AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AS WELL AS | 1 |
| ISN’T AT PAR WITH | 1 |
| ISN’T BEATING | 1 |
| ISN’T BILL’S EQUAL | 1 |
| ISN’T CAPABLE | 1 |
| ISN’T CAPABLE AS | 1 |
| ISN’T CAPABLE OF DOING IT AS WELL AS | 1 |
| ISN’T CAPABLE OF TALENTS | 1 |
| ISN’T CLOSE | 1 |
| ISN’T COMPARABLE WITH | 1 |
| ISN’T EQUAL WITH | 1 |
| ISN’T HALF AS (ADJECTIVE OF APPROBATION) AS | 1 |
| ISN’T HALF GOOD AS | 1 |
| ISN’T HALF OF | 1 |
| ISN’T HALF THE MAN THAT BILL IS | 1 |
| ISN’T IN THE CLASS WITH | 1 |
| ISN’T IN THE SAME LEAGUE | 1 |
| ISN’T NEAR | 1 |
| ISN’T NEAR BOUT THE MAN BILL IS | 1 |
| ISN’T NEAR THE MAN BILL IS | 1 |
| ISN’T NEAR THE MAN THAT BILL IS | 1 |
| ISN’T NEAR UP TO | 1 |
| ISN’T NEARLY AS NICE AS | 1 |
| ISN’T NEARLY LIKE | 1 |
| ISN’T NEARLY THE MAN BILL IS | 1 |
| ISN’T NEARLY UP TO | 1 |
| ISN’T NO MATCH FOR | 1 |
| ISN’T ONE-TENTH THE MAN BILL IS | 1 |
| ISN’T ONE-TWO WITH | 1 |
| ISN’T QUITE AS CAPABLE AS | 1 |
| ISN’T QUITE ON PAR WITH | 1 |
| ISN’T QUITE THE PERSON BILL IS | 1 |
| ISN’T SO APT AS | 1 |
| ISN’T SO GOOD AS | 1 |
| ISN’T SO SMART AS | 1 |
| ISN’T THE BETTER MAN | 1 |
| ISN’T THE CALIBER OF | 1 |
| ISN’T THE GUY BILL IS | 1 |
| ISN’T THE SAME AS | 1 |
| ISN’T THE SAME LEVEL AS | 1 |
| ISN’T THE WORKER BILL IS | 1 |
| ISN’T TOPPING | 1 |
| ISN’T TOUGH AS | 1 |
| ISN’T UP TO PAR | 1 |
| ISN’T UP TO THE LEVEL OF | 1 |
| ISN’T UP TO THE MARK | 1 |
| ISN’T WHAT BILL IS | 1 |
| LIGHT A CANDLE | 1 |
| LIGHT A MATCH TO | 1 |
| MATCH UP | 1 |
| MATCH UP TO | 1 |
| MEASURE TO | 1 |
| MEASURE UP WITH | 1 |
| MEET | 1 |
| NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THEM | 1 |
| NOT AS GIFTED AS | 1 |
| NOT AS GOOD A HAND AS | 1 |
| NOT AS GOOD A MAN AS | 1 |
| NOT AS GOOD AS | 1 |
| NOT GOT AS MUCH SENSE AS | 1 |
| NOT HALF THE MAN BILL IS | 1 |
| NOT IN THE CLASS WITH | 1 |
| NOT IN THE SAME LEAGUE WITH | 1 |
| NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS | 1 |
| NOT NEARLY AS SHARP AS | 1 |
| NOT THE BOY THAT BILL IS | 1 |
| NOT THE MAN BILL IS | 1 |
| NOWHERES NEARS | 1 |
| OUTCLASS | 1 |
| OUTSTRIP | 1 |
| PRODUCE AS MUCH AS | 1 |
| PUT OUT LIKE BILL DOES | 1 |
| REACH | 1 |
| RIVAL | 1 |
| SHAKE A STICK TO | 1 |
| STACK TO | 1 |
| SURPASS | 1 |
| THERE IS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO | 1 |
| THERE’S NO COMPARISON | 1 |
| TOUCH HIM | 1 |
| WHIP | 1 |
DARE Data Summary by Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.