Why Do We Say “Close, But No Cigar”? | Smartest Year Ever (Aug 19, 2025)

Where does the phrase “Close, but no cigar” really come from?Gordy investigates the surprising origin of one of the most enduring idioms in the English language. Today we use it as a light jab when someone almost succeeds—but not quite. But the real story behind it involves 19th-century carnival games, actual cigar giveaways, and a strange cultural shift in how we award success.

If you've ever said the phrase but never questioned it, this one's going to change the way you hear it forever. Stick around—because the explanation isn’t just close. It’s a winner.

Watch till the end to hear how this phrase made its way from rigged carnival booths… into everyday conversation.

Like, comment, and follow for more facts you’ll actually want to repeat.

Sources

• Oxford English Dictionary. (2025). Close, but no cigar. Oxford University Press. https://www.oed.com
  

• Ayto, J. (2010). Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford University Press.
  

• Ammer, C. (2003). The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
  

• Safire, W. (2007). On Language: The Best of the New York Times Magazine’s Language Column. Times Books.
  

• Smithsonian Institution Archives. (2020). Carnival Prizes of the 20th Century.
  

• Allen, R. L. (1998). The American Carnival: A Social History. University of Chicago Press.
  

#idiomorigin #etymology #carnivals #idioms #historyfacts #languagehistory #DailyFacts #DidYouKnow

Music thanks to Zapsplat.