Storyboard

Why Do We Say, 'Close, But No Cigar' and Other Weird Sayings?

The world is full of weird sayings and phrases. But why do we say them and where do they come from? Learn the origin and meaning behind phrases like "close, but no cigar," why we say "bless you" when people sneeze, and phrases grandma used to swear in her day.

Avatar - HowStuffWorks
Curated by
HowStuffWorks
    Why Do We Say, 'Close, But No Cigar' and Other Weird Sayings?

    Photo: resize.hswstatic.com

    Continue to read
    7 stories in this Storyboard
      Why Do We Say, 'Close, But No Cigar'?

      Why Do We Say, 'Close, But No Cigar'?

      Cigars don't just emit acrid smoke that seem to latch onto your clothes — they've also spawned some similarly sticky idioms in the English language. …