"smoke and mirrors" の語源について解説しているThe Word Detectiveの記事を引用します。
Dear Word Detective: "Smoke and mirrors" means to distort the truth? I heard that it originated from carnies, having to do with tricks of the circus. -- Kody Laurentia.
Close, but no cigar. Anybody got a spare rim shot?
"no cigar" の意味を調べます。辞書では "close, but no cigar" の表現として説明があります。
・Merriam-Webster: used to say that a guess was almost correct or that an effort was almost sufficient: What country jails the most journalists? If you guessed China, you were close, but no cigar.
・Wiktionary: Used to indicate that one is almost correct or has almost succeeded, but not quite.: Betty ran all out in the sprint race; yet, it was close, but no cigar.
Etymology: Apparently from the practice of giving cigars as prizes at carnivals in the United States in the 20th century; those who did not win would fail to receive a cigar, even if they came close.
・Farlex Dictionary of Idioms: cliché A phrase said when one is almost correct or successful but ultimately fails. Cigars were once commonly used as prizes or awards.: A: "Is the answer 73?" B: "Ooh, close, but no cigar. It's 75, actually."
葉巻が景品とは、ノースモーキングが当たり前になってきた現在では考えられない賞品ですね。
Dear Word Detective: "Smoke and mirrors" means to distort the truth? I heard that it originated from carnies, having to do with tricks of the circus. -- Kody Laurentia.
Close, but no cigar. Anybody got a spare rim shot?
"no cigar" の意味を調べます。辞書では "close, but no cigar" の表現として説明があります。
・Merriam-Webster: used to say that a guess was almost correct or that an effort was almost sufficient: What country jails the most journalists? If you guessed China, you were close, but no cigar.
・Wiktionary: Used to indicate that one is almost correct or has almost succeeded, but not quite.: Betty ran all out in the sprint race; yet, it was close, but no cigar.
Etymology: Apparently from the practice of giving cigars as prizes at carnivals in the United States in the 20th century; those who did not win would fail to receive a cigar, even if they came close.
・Farlex Dictionary of Idioms: cliché A phrase said when one is almost correct or successful but ultimately fails. Cigars were once commonly used as prizes or awards.: A: "Is the answer 73?" B: "Ooh, close, but no cigar. It's 75, actually."
葉巻が景品とは、ノースモーキングが当たり前になってきた現在では考えられない賞品ですね。
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