Close, but no cigar

Learning English Conversations

BBC

Language Learning, Education

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 September 2016

⏱️ 2 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why is Neil trying to smoke a cigar in the studio? Learn an English expression about almost succeeding

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is a download from BBC Learning English.
0:03.0	To find out more, visit our website.
0:06.0	The English we speak.
0:09.0	From BBC learning English.
0:12.0	com Hello and
0:14.0	welcome to the English we speak I'm Neil and joining me is fey
0:18.0	hi there everyone in this program we have an expression you can use when someone has almost succeeded, but not quite.
0:27.0	Now Fay Faye, could you pass me that lighter, please?
0:30.0	Lighter, what on earth are you doing with that cigar? You can't smoke in here.
0:36.0	It's a clue. You have to guess what the expression is.
0:39.0	Oh, okay. Is it to smoke without a chimney?
0:43.0	Close but no cigar.
0:45.0	Okay. Is it no smoke without fire?
0:48.0	Close but no cigar.
0:50.0	Oh, I give up.
0:51.0	I've told you twice already.
0:52.0	It's close but no cigar. If someone almost
0:56.4	succeeds but not quite you can say to them close but no cigar. Here are some
1:01.6	examples.
1:03.0	How old do you think I am?
1:05.0	Um, 36?
1:09.0	Nope.
	...

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