Close but no cigar

Close but no cigar

The expression "Close but no cigar" refers to the the tradition of celebrating a milestone with a cigar, i.e. the birth of a child or the closure of a deal. It implies that while many conditions to resolve a problem have been met, the problem itself has not actually been resolved.


Origin.
The phrase originates from a time when (date?) cigars were handed out at carnivals as the first prize. When someone just missed out on winning, the carnies would say "close but no cigar".


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  • close, but no cigar — spoken phrase used for telling someone that they have failed, although their attempt, guess etc was almost successful Thesaurus: unsuccessfulsynonym Main entry: close * * * informal …   Useful english dictionary

  • close but no cigar — (USA) If you are close but no cigar, you are close to success or the truth, but have not got there …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • close but no cigar — see ↑close, 2 • • • Main Entry: ↑cigar …   Useful english dictionary

  • close but no cigar — (USA)    If you are close but no cigar, you are close to success, but have not got there.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    This expression refers to an effort to do something which was a good attempt but not quite good enough to succeed.… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • Close, but no cigar. — [klos...] phr. Close, but not close enough to win a prize! □ You almost did it. Close, but no cigar. □ Close, but no cigar! Give it another try …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • close, but no cigar — almost but not exactly what you had hoped for or wanted. Vince never got that big win he wanted it was always close but no cigar. Etymology: from games of skill or chance in which the person who won would get a cigar as a prize …   New idioms dictionary

  • Close but no cigar —   (USA)   If you are close but no cigar, you are close to success, but have not got there …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • Close, but no cigar. — American & Australian, humorous something that you say to someone if what they tell you or what they do is nearly correct but not completely. Is his name Howard? Close, but no cigar. It s Harold …   New idioms dictionary

  • close but no cigar N. Amer. — close but no cigar N. Amer. informal almost but not quite successful. → cigar …   English new terms dictionary

  • Close but No Cigar (song) — This article is about the Weird Al Yankovic song. For the track of the same name by the British musician Thomas Dolby, see Thomas Dolby. Close But No Cigar Close But No Cigar cover Song by Weird Al Yankovic from the alb …   Wikipedia

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