close, but no cigar: Idiom Meaning and Origin

The idiom "close, but no cigar" is a familiar phrase in the English language. It is often used to convey the idea that someone has come very close to achieving something, but ultimately falls short. This phrase is related to the idiom "not quite", which carries a similar meaning of almost reaching a goal but not quite getting there.

The origins of "close, but no cigar" are rooted in the amusement industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this time period, fairgrounds and carnivals were popular sources of entertainment. One attraction at these events was various games and challenges that offered participants the opportunity to win cigars as prizes.

Participants would try their luck or skill at these games, hoping to win a coveted cigar. When someone came close to winning but fell short, the carnival workers or game operators would say "close, but no cigar" to signify their near miss. This phrase became a common way to express disappointment or acknowledge a commendable effort that fell just short of success.

The idiom "close, but no cigar" gradually gained popularity and expanded beyond the realm of fairgrounds. By the mid-20th century, it had become a commonly used idiom in everyday language. Whether in sports, academics, or other areas of life, this phrase can be used to describe a near miss or an effort that wasn't quite good enough.

The idiom "close, but no cigar" is also related to the phrase "close in on." This phrase is used to describe the act of nearing or approaching a goal or target. When someone is close in on something, they are getting closer and closer to achieving it.

Similarly, when someone is described as being "close, but no cigar," it means they were on the right track but didn't quite reach their desired outcome. It implies that they were getting closer to their goal, but fell short in the end.

An example of this could be a student who studies diligently for a test and performs well, but still falls short of getting an A. They were close in on an A, but ultimately didn't achieve it.

The idiom "close, but no cigar" can also be connected to the phrase "come to a close." When something comes to a close, it means it is nearing its end or reaching its conclusion.

Using this connection, "close, but no cigar" can be used to describe a situation where something is near its conclusion, but doesn't quite reach it. It suggests that the ending was close at hand, but there was a missing piece or a final step that prevented it from being fully realized.

An example of this could be a race where a runner is in the lead for most of the race but stumbles right before the finish line, allowing another runner to overtake them. They were close, but no cigar in terms of winning the race. Their nearness to the finish line made their loss all the more disappointing.

The idiom "close, but no cigar" is a widely recognized phrase that conveys the idea of coming close to achieving something but ultimately falling short. It originated from the amusement industry and has since become a commonly used idiom in everyday language. It is related to the idioms "not quite", "close in on", and "come to a close", which all carry similar meanings of near misses or efforts that didn't quite reach their desired outcome.