Question by Martin: Where did the phrase “Close but no cigar” emanate from?
I’ve always heard that phrase, people using it for when someone gets close to a goal, and then fall short, but where did that phrase even come from?
Best answer:
Answer by Teacher
close, but no cigar – Wiktionaryclose, but no cigar. Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary … From the practice of giving cigars as prizes at carnivals in the US in the 19th …en.wiktionary.org/wiki/close,_but_no_cigar – CachedClose, but no cigarClose, but no cigar – the meaning and origin of this phrase.www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/close-but-no-cigar.html – Cached
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2 Comments until now
The phrase dates from the mid 20th century when fairgrounds would give out cigars as prizes. There is no concrete proof that the phrase came from this, but it seems to be the most likely source. Thus, the cigar was a prize. A person would play a game at a fairground and then if he did not win, he would be told, “Close, but no cigar,” since he did not win the cigar.
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