An Origin Story from the State Fair

There are local ads running for the Great Minnesota Get Together (The State Fair). I’m not a fan, but based on their attendance and passion people have for it, I am in the minority. I was on the bus the other day and I overheard someone say, “Close, but no cigar.” I hadn’t heard that expression in a long time and while I think everyone knows pretty well what it means, the origin story may be new.

Also, when I was a kid you could buy candy cigarettes and when my brother was born I passed out bubble gum in a cigar shape to my neighborhood friends. We certainly have come a long way understanding the dangers of tobacco, 

Carnival barkers and people running games at the state fair encourage people to try their luck and skill to win a prize. Years ago, the prize was often a cigar. So, if a contestant made an attempt, but didn’t quite win, the rejoinder from the barker was, “Close, but no cigar.” And that has stayed with us all these years later.