Meaning of close, but no cigar | Babel Free
/ˈkləʊs bʌt nəʊ sɪˈɡɑː/Definitions
Used to indicate that one is almost correct or has almost succeeded, but not quite.
colloquial, idiomatic
Equivalents
Français
presque réussi, mais raté
Italiano
ci sei quasi
日本語
惜しい
Polski
prawie robi wielką różnicę
Svenska
nära skjuter ingen hare
Examples
“Betty ran all out in the sprint race; yet, it was close, but no cigar.”
“The long distance trophy [for alumni who had traveled the furthest to attend the reunion], an appropriately inscribed silver cigarette case, was awarded to Em Gooch who had made the trip from Lincoln, Neb. for the occasion. Several other members came close, but no cigar, and we trust that all those in New York and Philadelphia who failed to show up, without reason, will read these lines with a quiver.”
CEFR level
C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.