几近成功（Close, but no cigar）丨BBC听英语

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。

文字稿

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!