Close only counts in horseshoes

close only counts in horseshoes (and hand grenades)

proverb Being nearly successful or accurate is not the same as being successful or accurate; being close to achieving something does not provide any benefit. It doesn't matter that we only lost the game by two points—we still lost! And close only counts in horseshoes. A: "You should be proud that you came so close to being valedictorian." B: "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."

See also: close, count, hand, horseshoe

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Close only counts in horseshoes (and hand grenades).

Prov. Coming close but not succeeding is not good enough. I came close to winning the election, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

See also: close, count, horseshoe

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.