nice try but no cigar, good and close but not correct; almost but not entirely successful; good but incorrect guess
close, but no cigar
الواصلة
close, but no ci·gar
النطق
علم أصول الكلمات
() From the practice of giving cigars as prizes at carnivals in the US in the 19th century; this phrase would be said to those who failed to win a prize.