Close, but no cigar

Meaning

The idiom "close, but no cigar" means that something is very close to being what you want or need, but not quite there yet. It implies that it's almost perfect, but not quite.

Usage

• The new restaurant on the corner is close, but no cigar compared to my favorite Italian place down the street.
• I got a job offer, but it's not quite what I was looking for - the salary is a bit low and the hours are long.
• My friend's painting is so close, but no cigar - it's almost there, but just needs a little more attention to detail.
• The movie was good, but not quite as great as I had hoped.
• The concert was enjoyable, but not quite up to par with the other shows I've seen in this band.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "close, but no cigar" is uncertain, but it has been used since at least the 19th century. One theory suggests that the phrase comes from the world of tobacco, where a close-to-perfect cigar would be one that had just a bit of leaf left over. Another theory is that the phrase comes from the world of gambling. In poker, a hand that's close to being a full house but missing just one or two cards would be referred to as "close, but no cigar". Over time, the meaning and usage of the idiom have remained relatively consistent. It's often used to describe something that's almost what you want, but not quite there yet.

Synonyms in English

• Almost there.
• Close call.
• Nearly perfect.
• Almost hit the nail on the head.
• Got it close.

Synonyms in other languages

• En français: presque parfait, presque bon.
• En español: casi correcto, casi bueno.
• En italiano: quasi perfetto, quasi bene.
• In Portuguese: quase perfeito, quase bem.
• In German: fast perfekt, fast gut.

Similar Idioms

• on your mark

• cross swords

• cold shoulder