Close but no cigar

Garzo

Posted: 10 June 2004 02:39 AM

[ Ignore ]

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I love this expression. It’s such a good way of describing near success.

Does anyone know where it comes from?

Is it the state motto of Florida?

- Garzo.

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Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.&&-The First Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, chapter 13.

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Kasia25

Posted: 10 June 2004 03:15 AM

[ Ignore ] [ # 1 ]

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Hello,
From "The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.":
Close, but no cigar =
Even a near miss is still a miss. The saying probably originated with carnival contests in which a cigar was the prize for hitting a target.
Is it helpful?

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“The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.”&&Horace; Walpole &&

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edman

Posted: 10 June 2004 04:38 AM

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Is it the state motto of Florida?

No, that’s "Close enough - have the whole darn factory!"

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My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way. &&- Ernest Hemingway&&

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gailr

Posted: 10 June 2004 08:16 AM

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Kasia is correct! (Give that woman a cigar!)

However, my non-smoking circle likes to render this as: Close, but no cigarette.

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Sitran

Posted: 10 June 2004 08:21 AM

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Way to go, Kasia!

You get the (bubble gum) cigar or the (candy) cigarettes!

Sitran

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“Science in its ideology sees itself as doing a fearless exploration of the unknown. Most of the time it is a fearful exploration of the almost known.”&&&&- Rupert Sheldrake &&&&

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McKenzie

Posted: 10 June 2004 11:17 AM

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And close is only good in horseshoes!

Regards, Members!

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Flaminius

Posted: 10 June 2004 11:52 AM

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[quote author=gailr link=board=idiom;num=1086881960;start=0#3 date=06/10/04 at 17:16:54]Kasia is correct! (Give that woman a cigar!)

However, my non-smoking circle likes to render this as: Close, but no cigarette.

This is very close to the motto of Irish pubs these days.

Open, but no cigarette.

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Fortunae rota volvitur; descendo minoratus; alter in altum tollitur; nimis exaltatus.

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Perry

Posted: 10 June 2004 02:50 PM

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Too many cigars and the atmosphere gets very close.

Perry

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“...or do I misconstrue?” (acronym = odim?) David Gaynes (too many times to put a date on it!)

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Tim

Posted: 10 June 2004 03:29 PM

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[quote author=McKenzie link=board=idiom;num=1086881960;start=0#5 date=06/10/04 at 20:17:04]And close is only good in horseshoes!

And hand grenades, from what I hear…

-Tim

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For myself, I find I become less cynical rather than more… and realize that men’s hearts are not often as bad as their acts, and very seldom as bad as their words. - JRR Tolkien

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‹‹ You asked for it... Jerry or Jury ››