"Close, but no cigar."

[Garson O'Toole]

March 6 1930, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Page 24 has
Close-but no cigar


On Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 10:48 AM, Stephen Goranson <goranson at duke.edu> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Stephen Goranson <goranson at DUKE.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: "Close, but no cigar."
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Another 1934, with a bell
>
> October 18, 1934
> Paper: Times-Picayune, published as The Times-Picayune; Date: 10-18-1934; Page: 14 col. 1; Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
> [Football incomplete passes]
> It was a case of "close--but no cigar" on several heaves, and for that reason the Cadets believe that they will start
> ringing the bell on their next appearance.
>
> Stephen Goranson
> http://www.duke.edu/~goranson
>
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