Close but no cigar

This phrase for a near miss originated at American carnival games in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cigars were commonly given as prizes for winning games of skill or chance at fairgrounds. If you came close to winning but did not quite succeed, you would get "close, but no cigar."

Explore More Origins

Red tape Read the riot act Pass the buck Eat humble pie Three sheets to the wind Skeleton in the closet

Put your skills to the test

Many of the idioms explored here appear as hidden solutions in our daily cryptogram puzzle. Try solving today's cipher.

Browse All Phrases Play Today's Puzzle