What Does "Close Enough for Government Work" Mean?
"Close enough for government work" is an English idiom. It means "good enough; adequate but not exact, often used humorously."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "close enough for government work" used in a sentence:- This repair isn't perfect, but it's close enough for government work.
- Your drawing isn't exactly like the picture, but close enough for government work.
- The measurements might be off by a millimeter, but hey, close enough for government work.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Close Enough for Government Work" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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