“Close But No Cigar” Meaning, Origin and Examples

Last updated on October 17, 2024 by Liam Daniel

The term ‘close but no cigar’ is one that can be found often in English speech or written language. But what is the meaning of this common saying and where did it come from? Have you ever wondered how to use it in your every day conversations? We are going to explore the meaning of the phrase, it’s history and how we can use it.

“Close But No Cigar” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • The phrase “close but no cigar” means that someone was close to achieving a goal or getting something right, but ultimately fell short or did not succeed. It originated from the practice of giving cigars as prizes at fairground games, where players might come close to winning but ultimately miss out.
Close But No Cigar
Close But No Cigar – Created by 7ESL

“Close But No Cigar” Meaning

The phrase “close but no cigar” means that someone has nearly succeeded in achieving something but ultimately fell short. It indicates that while the effort was commendable, it did not result in the desired outcome.

Examples:

  • “I almost got the job, but they went with another candidate. Close but no cigar.”
  • “He made a great attempt at solving the puzzle, but he missed one piece—close but no cigar!”

Origin of This Idiom

This phrase originally came from the early 20th century when cigars were given out as prizes at carnivals and fairgrounds. If you got close to winning, you might get a smaller, less valuable prize but would not win the best prize of a cigar.

Usage of “Close But No Cigar”

  • In a sports context:

“She shot a great score, but her ball hit the edge of the hole. It was close but no cigar!”

  • Talking about a quiz or test:

“I answered most of the questions correctly, but I missed one key detail—close but no cigar.”

  • During a discussion about a project:

“We nearly completed the project ahead of schedule, but we ran into some last-minute issues. Close but no cigar.”

  • In a humorous situation:

“He guessed the password almost perfectly, but mixed up a couple of letters—close but no cigar!”

Related Terms to “Close But No Cigar”

  • So close – an expression indicating that someone almost achieved something.
  • Almost there – suggesting that someone is very near to achieving a goal but hasn’t quite succeeded.
  • Not quite – indicating that something is close to being correct or successful but isn’t.
  • In the ballpark – meaning that something is approximately correct or close to the desired outcome.
  • Missed it by a mile – suggesting a significant failure to achieve something, often used sarcastically when one is actually close.
  • Just shy of – indicating that someone nearly reached a goal but fell short.
  • Close call – a situation that nearly resulted in a different outcome, often used in contexts of danger or risk.
  • On the right track – suggesting that someone is making progress towards a goal, even if they haven’t achieved it yet.
  • Failed to hit the mark – indicating that an attempt was made but did not meet the target or expectation.
  • Not quite there yet – expressing that more effort is needed to achieve a goal.

Other Ways to Say the Phrase

If you want to express the meaning of this idiomatic term using other words, there are many options. Here are a few examples.

  • Doesn’t quite cut the mustard
  • Not quite as good as
  • Pretty near
  • Not quite

“Close But No Cigar” Examples

Example Sentences

You could use this saying in a whole variety of situations. A good example would be if you were to take your friend out for the evening to a lovely restaurant. Your friend might enjoy the meal but say something along the lines of

  • ‘My favourite restaurant is still much nicer than this one, close, but no cigar.’

You could also use it if you have asked someone to get something for your from a shop, for example you may have asked for a blue sweater but your friend returned with a blue T-shirt. You might then say

  • ‘It’s nice but I asked for a sweater, close, but no cigar.‘

You can use the term to describe anything that is good but doesn’t match up to the best preference in that situation.

Conversation Examples

Here are some examples of how you might hear the term ‘close, but no cigar’ in a conversation.

Conversation 1:

  • Person 1: “Dave took me on a lovely holiday last month.”
  • Person 2: “Was it as good as when you went to Bermuda?”
  • Person 1: “Close, but no cigar.”

Conversation 2:

  • Person 1: “Rebecca has a new boyfriend but he is not as nice as her last one.”
  • Person 2: “Yes, I met him last week, he seems like a nice guy. Close, but no cigar.”
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