Etymology Journal · C
Close, but no cigar
Meaning
- An expression meaning someone came very near to success but ultimately failed. It is usually used when someone misses a goal by a tiny margin.
Sympathetic, light
Used in a sentence
- You guessed the number perfectly, but it is not the right prize. Close, but no cigar.
- It was a great effort, close but no cigar.
- I almost made the shot, close but no cigar.
The backstory
This comes from late 19th-century carnival games where a cigar was a common prize for winning a game. If you didn't win, you got nothing, hence no cigar.
Heard in
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