close, but no cigar

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From the practice of giving cigars as prizes at carnivals in the US in the 19th century; this phrase would be said to those who failed to win a prize.

[edit] Idiom

close, but no cigar

  1. (idiomatic) that's almost correct, but not quite

[edit] Translations

that's almost correct, but not quite
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