The idiom "no one holds a candle to you" originates from a 17th-century English proverb that initially appeared as "no candle but thine is bright." The proverb became especially popular in the 18th century and was used in various forms, such as "there's no one whose candle can hold light with thine" or "no one's candle holds light near thine own." The expression gradually simplified over time, resulting in the modern saying "no one holds a candle to you."
The proverb essentially signifies that an individual's worth, abilities, or qualities greatly surpass those of others. It highlights the exceptionalism of a particular person in a specific field, making them stand out from the crowd. The candle imagery emphasizes that the person in question outshines others just as a bright candle outshines weaker or dimmer ones.