Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Arabic term or phrase:
وصلت اللقمة للثم
English translation:
close but no cigar
Added to glossary by
Khalid W
Jun 18, 2010 13:38
13 yrs ago
Arabic term
وصلت اللقمة للثم
Arabic to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
This is a saying in Lebanon, but unfortunately I have no context for it. Does anyone know what this means in idiomatic English? Thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | close but no cigar |
sktrans
|
| 4 | the bread finally reached the mouth |
EstherK56
|
| 3 | catered for/looked after/served |
Mona Helal
|
Proposed translations
37 mins
Selected
close but no cigar
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Note added at 40 mins (2010-06-18 14:18:35 GMT)
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The arabic expression means: a goal almost reached but missed.
"close but no cigar" comes from the times when cigars were awarded at carnivals as prizes. if one did not do quite well enough, this is the expression that was said and is still said.
Where does the expression "close but no cigar" come from? Mar 6, 2006 ... After all, not everyone wins, but life inevitably goes on. "Close, but no cigar" is a cliché, but it helps comfort those of us who don't ...
ask.yahoo.com/20060306.html - Cached - Similar
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-06-18 14:39:05 GMT)
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I am Lebanese
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Note added at 16 hrs (2010-06-19 06:32:03 GMT)
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It also means: we worked so hard towards XYZ, but in the end it fell through
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Note added at 3 days5 hrs (2010-06-21 19:30:49 GMT)
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another way of putting it is: so close yet unattainable
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Note added at 40 mins (2010-06-18 14:18:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The arabic expression means: a goal almost reached but missed.
"close but no cigar" comes from the times when cigars were awarded at carnivals as prizes. if one did not do quite well enough, this is the expression that was said and is still said.
Where does the expression "close but no cigar" come from? Mar 6, 2006 ... After all, not everyone wins, but life inevitably goes on. "Close, but no cigar" is a cliché, but it helps comfort those of us who don't ...
ask.yahoo.com/20060306.html - Cached - Similar
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2010-06-18 14:39:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I am Lebanese
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2010-06-19 06:32:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It also means: we worked so hard towards XYZ, but in the end it fell through
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days5 hrs (2010-06-21 19:30:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
another way of putting it is: so close yet unattainable
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "That's perfect..."
24 mins
Mona Helal
Native in Arabic
&
English
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Native in: Arabic 
, English
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic, Arabic, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
catered for/looked after/served
catered for
looked after
served
fed
looked after
served
fed
1 day 16 hrs
the bread finally reached the mouth
It means that one is finally making some earning or seeing real prosperity after long time hard work and suffering; and when this happen, these blessings (bread) can't be snatched by anyone.
Example sentence:
Bread finally reached my mouth and there is nothing you can do about
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