[Ads-l] "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Excellent citations, JL. Barry Popik has an entry for the saying with
a citation in 1967. The Dictionary of Modern Proverbs has entry with a
citation in 1970. Here is a new earlier instance in 1965.

Date: December 4, 1965
Newspaper: Elwood Call-Leader
Newspaper Location: Elwood, Indiana
Article: Rebels Muscle 'n Hustle Past Panther, 72-48
Byline: Gene Conard (Call-Leader Sports Editor)
Quote Page 6, Column 2
Database: Newspapers.com (Publisher Extra)

[Begin excerpt]
Elwood had a lot of good shots come close in the early and middle
stages, but like they say -- close counts only in horseshoes and hand
grenades -- and the Rebs got all the bangs.
[End excerpt]

Barry Popik's entry on this topic also has a citation for the adage
based on horseshoes alone.

http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/close_only_counts_in_horseshoes_and_hand_grenades

[Begin excerpt]
29 July 1914, Marshfield (WI) Times, pg. 8, col. 3:
Pitching horseshoes is about the only game where being “close” counts.
[End excerpt]

Garson


On Sun, Apr 24, 2016 at 7:58 PM, Jonathan Lighter
<wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I've known this saying since the early 80s. It wasn't slangy enough for
> HDAS II.
>
> 1971 _Plain Dealer_ [Cleveland, O.] (Aug. 1) 32: Close only counts in such
> divertissements as horseshoes and hand grenades.
>
> 1976 _Wall Street Journal_ (Feb. 26) 1:  Says Fitzhugh Powell, Mr.
> Wallace's state chairman: "Close don't count except in horseshoes and hand
> grenades."
>
> JL
>
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org