close enough for government work

English - English

Definition of close enough for government work in English English dictionary

It is not worth investing additional time on perfecting this thing

Hyphenation

close e·nough for gov·ern·ment work

Turkish pronunciation

klōs inʌf fôr gʌvırmınt wırk

Synonyms

close enough, good enough, good enough for government work

Pronunciation

/ˈklōs ēˈnəf ˈfôr ˈgəvərmənt ˈwərk/ /ˈkloʊs iːˈnʌf ˈfɔːr ˈɡʌvɜrmənt ˈwɜrk/

Etymology

() Originated in World War II. When something was "good enough for Government work" it meant it could pass the most rigorous of standards. Over the years it took on an ironic meaning that is now the primary sense, referring to poorly executed work. "Government work" is also a term for the manufacture of something on company time for personal use. For example, a custom trailer hitch made at a welding shop for the welder himself on the afternoon shift with no supervisors around is government work. Commonly heard in Ontario, Canada and northeast U.S.