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Close but no cigar

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Close but no cigar

Origin of Phrases - C

 

Close but no cigar

Meaning: It refers to a near miss or almost but not quite, winning the prize, contest, or achieving a goal.

 

Example: That free throw was close but no cigar.

 

Origin: The phrase, and its variant 'nice try, but no cigar', are of US origin. Carnival games of skill, particularly shooting games, once gave out cigars as a prize. A contestant that did not quite hit the target was close, but did not get a cigar.

It was first recorded in print in the script of the 1935 film version of Annie Oakley:  "Close, Colonel, but no cigar!"

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Cooking with gas

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Cooking with gas

Origin of Phrases - C

 

Cooking with gas

Meaning: To be working fast, proceeding rapidly.

 

Example: After working with those old hand tools, power tools will make you feel like you are really cooking with gas.

 

Origin: Although common place today, gas stoves have not always been the norm. Gas stoves started to be available in the 1800's, and until that time wood stoves were the standard. Now you're "cooking with gas" comes from an old advertisement for gas stoves. The phrase suggests that gas is faster, easier, cleaner, better than cooking with wood.

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Cat bird seat

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Cat bird seat

Origin of Phrases - C

 

Cat bird seat

Meaning: A highly advantaged position, to have it all.

 

Example: Some might describe Bill Gates as sitting in the cat bird seat.

 

Origin: Mocking birds are sometimes referred to as cat birds. Mocking birds typically sit at the top of a tree. Hence the cat bird seat is at the top.

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Chew the fat

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Chew the fat

Origin of Phrases - C

 

Chew the fat

Meaning: To talk about unimportant things.

 

Example: Sit down, have a beer, and let's chew the fat.

 

Origin: The Inuit (different from Eskimos) used to chew on pieces of whale blubber almost like chewing gum. The blubber took quite a while to dissolve, so it just sort of helped pass the time while they were doing something else. Some other cultures may have used bacon fat in a similar way.

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Cold turkey

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Cold turkey

Origin of Phrases - C

 

Cold turkey

Meaning: To quit something abruptly.

 

Example: You will not lose weight until you give up chocolate, and I suggest you go cold turkey.

 

Origin: The expression originates from the goose bumps and palor which accompany withdrawal from narcotics or tobacco. One's skin resembles that of a plucked, cold turkey....

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