Smoking What does the saying Close but no cigar come from?
The expression, “Close, but no cigar” means that a person fell slightly short of a successful outcome and therefore gets no reward. … The phrase most likely originated in the 1920s when fairs, or carnivals, would hand out cigars as prizes.
What does close but no banana mean?
Close, but no banana Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries. Slang Dictionaries. Australian Slang. phrase indicating that someone has made a good, but nevertheless incorrect, guess.
Where did the phrase sit tight come from?
The tight aspect of this idiom, most likely, comes from when it was common in the Western world to have a bed frame made of ropes strung equally apart both horizontally and vertically in the frame. One would tighten the ropes before getting into bed to assure the mattress laid on the ropes as straight as possible.
What does chip on shoulder mean?
To have a chip on one’s shoulder refers to the act of holding a grudge or grievance that readily provokes disputation. It can also mean a person thinking too much of oneself (often without the credentials) or feeling entitled.
What does the idiom Cut to the Chase mean?
“Cut to the chase” is a phrase that means to get to the point without wasting time. The saying originated from early film studios’ silent films. It was a favorite of, and thought to have been coined by, Hal Roach Sr.
What does it mean when someone says no dice?
No dice, from the 1920s, alludes to an unlucky throw in gambling; no go, alluding to lack of progress, dates from about 1820; and no soap dates from about 1920 and possibly alludes to the phrase it won’t wash, meaning “it won’t find acceptance.” Also see nothing doing; won’t wash.
What does the idiom cut the mustard mean?
(idiomatic) To suffice; to be good or effective enough. Give me the bigger hammer. This little one just doesn’t cut the mustard.
Who coined the phrase close but no cigar?
The earliest printed record of the phrase that we can found is in the Long Island Daily Press on May 18, 1929, with the idiom appearing as the headline of the article titled “Close; But No Cigar”, about a man named Hugo Straub who ended second in two presidential races he was running that finished in the same week.
Why do we say uncle?
It seems that while “crying uncle” is today regarded as an Americanism, its origins go all the way back to the Roman Empire. … Roman children, when beset by a bully, would be forced to say “Patrue, mi Patruissimo,” or “Uncle, my best Uncle,” in order to surrender and be freed.
Why do we say sweating bullets?
To sweat bullets is to sweat profusely, with giant drops, but the phrase’s origin may be more complicated than the drops resembling bullets. The Word Detective believes the expression evolved from “sweating blood,” which refers back to Jesus’ fateful walk in the Bible.10 мая 2016 г.
What does the saying the bloom is off the rose mean?
Phrase. bloom is off the rose. (idiomatic) The person, object, or situation identified in the context has lost its novelty, freshness, appeal, or acceptability. (idiomatic, business, economics) Business is not going well for a particular identified firm or industry, or the overall economy has taken a downturn.
What does when pigs fly mean?
“When pigs fly” is an adynaton, a way of saying that something will never happen. The phrase is often used for humorous effect, to scoff at over-ambition.
What does a finger in every pie mean?
Another form of this idiom is have a finger in every pie, meaning “to have an interest in or be involved in everything,” as in She does a great deal for the town; she has a finger in every pie.