—How did you do in the contest?
—Close, but no cigar. I got second place.
这里的 Close, but no cigar 是什么意思啊?
查词典,它是习语,意思是“差不多,但不完全对”。如:
—Was I right? 我说的对吗?
—Close,but no cigar. 差不多,但不完全对。
但这个意思用在上面的句子说不通啊!
《新牛津英语词典》把close but no cigar列为习语,所给解释是:[N. Amer. informal] (of an attempt) almost but not quite successful—— [北美,非正式] (尝试)几乎而未真正成功
所以你的句子的翻译如下:
—How did you do in the contest? 你比赛情况怎么样?
—Close, but no cigar. I got second place. 不算很成功,得了个第二名。