Close but no cigar
Meaning
This phrase describes a situation where someone has come very near to achieving success but has ultimately failed.
Origin
Picture the lively American carnival fairgrounds of the early 20th century, a cacophony of sights and sounds, where skilled marksmen and eager gamblers tried their luck at various games. Prizes, often a coveted cigar, awaited those who could hit the bullseye or land the winning throw. When a participant came tantalizingly close to victory, perhaps hitting just outside the winning circle or barely missing the target, the carnival barker would often declare, with a theatrical flourish, 'Close, but no cigar!' This direct and slightly mocking declaration perfectly encapsulated the agony of near-success without the ultimate reward, and the phrase soon escaped the fairgrounds to describe any instance of coming agonizingly near to an objective, only to fall short.
Examples
- I almost guessed the correct answer on the game show, but I was just one digit off, so it was close but no cigar.
- The team played their hearts out and made it to the finals, only to lose by a single point; close but no cigar.