习语Close, but no cigar

习语Close, but no cigar

Close, but no cigar 几近成功

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BBC的办公大楼里不允许吸烟但 Neil 在节目中为了介绍一个英语表达不惜违反规定，竟然拿出了雪茄，让菲菲看雪茄，打一个词。菲菲猜出这个和雪茄有关的表达是什么了吗？听节目。

（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Neil
Hello and welcome to Authentic Real English. I'm Neil and joining me is Feifei.

Feifei
大家好。

Neil
In this programme we have an expression you can use when someone has almost succeeded – but not quite. Now Feifei, could you just pass me that lighter, please?

Feifei
Lighter? 打火机？雪茄？这儿不准吸烟，你拿着雪茄是想干什么？

Neil
It's a clue. You have to guess what the expression is.

Feifei
Oh, OK. 让我猜要学习哪个表达。是 to smoke like a chimney 吗？

Neil
Close, but no cigar.

Feifei
OK, is it 'no smoke without fire'?

Neil
Close, but no cigar.

Feifei
哎呀，你就别卖关子了。直接说了吧！

Neil
I've told you twice already – it's 'close, but no cigar.' If someone almost succeeds – but not quite – you can say to them 'close, but no cigar.'

Feifei

原来要学习的表达是 close, but no cigar。这个表达的意思是在做事情的时候，差那么一点就成功了。Here are some examples.

Examples
A: How old do you think I am?

B: 36?

A: Nope – 35. Close, but no cigar.

Five of my numbers came up in the lottery. Close, but no cigar.

They hit the post in the last second of the game. Close, but no cigar!

Neil
So, there we go. If someone almost succeeds, but doesn't quite, we can say to them 'close, but no cigar.'

Feifei
Right, well, you can put that cigar away now we've finished.

Neil
Actually, it's a really good one – shame to waste it.

Feifei
Neil!

Neil
Uh oh!