Idiom: Close but no Cigar Posted on 20th February 201819th February 2018 by DoubleClick Close but no Cigar: when someone almost succeeded, but is not completely successful or correct, and get nothing Example: It was very close but no cigar for Brown as he hit the ball correctly, but no hole in. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Related Posted in Idiom and tagged Idiom C.