Thread: игра не стоит свеч

is this a common saying? Is it dated?
thanks

It’s not worth the effort doing something.
Yes, it’s very common.

Originally Posted by alexB

It’s not worth the effort doing something.
Yes, it’s very common.

Игра стоит свеч also is common.

I've found it in my Collins Dictionary:

not worth the candle - informal not worth the price or trouble entailed (esp in the phrase the game's not worth the candle)

Does it mean the saying exists in English?

BTW, it comes from the card players language. Sometimes the winnings of the player were so small, that they didn't pay off the cost of the candles used during the game (no electricity at the time).

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Does it mean the saying exists in English?

Я слышала, что это выражение как раз в Англии родилось.

Originally Posted by Оля

Я слышала, что это выражение как раз в Англии родилось.

Серьезно? Я знаю, что русские позаимствовали его у французов, а где те взяли - мне неведомо.
Интересно, если это родное английское выражение, почему sperk о нем не знает? Устарело?

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

I've found it in my Collins Dictionary:

not worth the candle - informal not worth the price or trouble entailed (esp in the phrase the game's not worth the candle)

Does it mean the saying exists in English?

Never heard of it.