Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
Close but no cigar
Japanese translation:
また外れた
Added to glossary by
Yuriko Daikoku
Feb 19, 2004 22:20
20 yrs ago
English term
Japan
Drug Safety Information Specialist
Native in: Japanese
Works in: English to Japanese, Japanese to English
Close but no cigar
May offend
English to Japanese
Other
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Film Script
Script from James Bond film "The World Is Not Enough"
Conversation between JB and Money Penny.
JB enters the MI6 headquarter. MP asks him if he has brought any souvenir back from his mission trip for her, then he presents her a metal case of cigar and MP goes,
"I know exactly where to put that."
She throw it into a rubbish bin (sexual implication in the image). Then JB get close to her and goes,
"Story of our relationship... Close but no cigar."
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This question is just out of my curiosity.
I can get the joke, but would like to see how it can be translated, considering the joke included in the phrase from the previous scene. Would love to hear as many suggestions as possible.
Conversation between JB and Money Penny.
JB enters the MI6 headquarter. MP asks him if he has brought any souvenir back from his mission trip for her, then he presents her a metal case of cigar and MP goes,
"I know exactly where to put that."
She throw it into a rubbish bin (sexual implication in the image). Then JB get close to her and goes,
"Story of our relationship... Close but no cigar."
--------------------------------------------
This question is just out of my curiosity.
I can get the joke, but would like to see how it can be translated, considering the joke included in the phrase from the previous scene. Would love to hear as many suggestions as possible.
Proposed translations
(Japanese)
Proposed translations
+2
12 mins
Philip Ronan
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Japanese translator
Native in: English 
Works in: Japanese to English, English to Japanese, Japanese
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
また外れた
This is a reference to the well-publicized affair between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Ever since the earlist James Bond films, JB and Money Penny have flirted with each other without ever getting anywhere. So once again, they come "close" to hitting it off, but without success ("no cigar")
The expression "close but no cigar" can be used in any situation; it's only a bit risque in this context because of the Clinton/Lewinsky undertones. Apparently the expressin originated from old US slot machines which used to give out cigars as prizes.
The expression "close but no cigar" can be used in any situation; it's only a bit risque in this context because of the Clinton/Lewinsky undertones. Apparently the expressin originated from old US slot machines which used to give out cigars as prizes.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
ykamada
: Nice expression about the meaning of the cigger and their relationship. I rather translate the phraze as simple as "俺達の関係は旨くいかないな”
1 day 55 mins
|
| agree |
Rajiv Arora
3 days 2 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you so much for everyone who geve me lots of suggestions. All the answers are very helpful and interesting. It is very hard to decide, but I will give Philip 4 points for explanation on Lewinsky joke and best translation to enter the glossary.
As snobees requested, my translation would be...
1) I can't get rid of the idea that "close" can be a pun concidering "our relationship"
2) There's a Lewinsky joke implied in it.
So I'd translate it as "親密．．．だけど葉巻はダメか""
23 mins
Nobuo Kawamura
Japan
Japan
Native in Japanese
Japan
professional translator since 2001
Native in: Japanese 
Works in: English to Japanese, Italian to Japanese, Spanish to Japanese, and 3 more.
もう少しで吸うところなのにおしまい
"Story of our relationship... を生かしてサブタイトルを考えました。映画のタイトル作りは大好きです。
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Note added at 2004-02-19 22:46:31 (GMT)
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（註）ただしこの台詞の秒数が最小4秒必要です
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Note added at 2004-02-19 22:46:31 (GMT)
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（註）ただしこの台詞の秒数が最小4秒必要です
1 hr
Come disappointingly close to success
I know it from Groucho Marx on his quiz program first on radio and then on TV DECADES ago, but the first URL--first hit at Google, note!--hints that it might have predated him.
Origin: Early slot machines gave out cigars as prizes.
Next time, go to Google first.
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Note added at 2004-02-24 03:17:39 (GMT)
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http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@FFD16065546 ... points out the opposite use: \"give the man a cigar, a response to a correct answer.\" I recall Groucho saying that, but the impact was not as strong. A Google search on \"close but no cigar\" reveals how enduring the phrase is.
Origin: Early slot machines gave out cigars as prizes.
Next time, go to Google first.
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Note added at 2004-02-24 03:17:39 (GMT)
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http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@FFD16065546 ... points out the opposite use: \"give the man a cigar, a response to a correct answer.\" I recall Groucho saying that, but the impact was not as strong. A Google search on \"close but no cigar\" reveals how enduring the phrase is.
Reference:
7 hrs
Peishun CHIANG
Japan
Japan
Native in Japanese
Works in field
Japan
Stylish Japanese? Look no further.
Native in: Japanese (Variants: Standard-Japan, Kansai)
Works in: English to Japanese, Japanese, Chinese to Japanese, and 1 more.
不適切な関係
"不適切な関係は頂けないわ！"
As Mr.Ronan mentioned, I cannot ignore
Clinton/Lewinsky affair in this case.
"不適切な関係" was the famous expression
found in the translation of
Bill Clinton's TV speech, and the word
should remind the viewer everything.
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Note added at 2004-02-21 18:26:56 (GMT)
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I¥'d like to change it to ¥"不適切な関係は頂けないってことか。¥"
As Mr.Ronan mentioned, I cannot ignore
Clinton/Lewinsky affair in this case.
"不適切な関係" was the famous expression
found in the translation of
Bill Clinton's TV speech, and the word
should remind the viewer everything.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-02-21 18:26:56 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
I¥'d like to change it to ¥"不適切な関係は頂けないってことか。¥"
15 hrs
もう少しだが及ばない
ランダムハウスからです。
close but no cigar もう少しだが及ばない
close but no cigar もう少しだが及ばない
+1
19 hrs
またお預けか
" Story of our relationship... Close... but no cigar”
“僕等（の関係）はいつもニアミスだ”というニュアンスで
“またお預けか”
というのがプレイボーイらしい表現ではないでしょうか？
“僕等（の関係）はいつもニアミスだ”というニュアンスで
“またお預けか”
というのがプレイボーイらしい表現ではないでしょうか？
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Katalin Horváth McClure
: I think this is the best fit in this context.
2 hrs
|
|
thank you.
|
3 hrs
なぜ女性に葉巻のお土産なのか
二人の会話もさることながら、なぜ女性に対してシガーをお土産にするのか？
「皮肉屋」のJBだけに、なにかdouble-meaning あるのか、あれこれ思案中です。
下記のオンライン辞書のうち、「スラング」編を参照。
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Note added at 1 day 11 hrs 50 mins (2004-02-21 10:10:40 GMT)
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会話の前段について、モニカ事件を風刺していると。別の評論家によれば、この映画は際どいジョークが多いと(full of overly obvious sexual jokes)。
http://home.nyc.rr.com/htsutsui/english_newmovies.html
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Note added at 3 days 2 hrs 2 mins (2004-02-23 00:22:41 GMT)
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試訳「葉巻遊びは今度もお預けだね」なお、モニカ事件は葉巻で象徴させた。また、際どいジョークの表¥現は難しいですね。
Please present the asker¥'s trial translation, before closing this site.
「皮肉屋」のJBだけに、なにかdouble-meaning あるのか、あれこれ思案中です。
下記のオンライン辞書のうち、「スラング」編を参照。
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 11 hrs 50 mins (2004-02-21 10:10:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
会話の前段について、モニカ事件を風刺していると。別の評論家によれば、この映画は際どいジョークが多いと(full of overly obvious sexual jokes)。
http://home.nyc.rr.com/htsutsui/english_newmovies.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days 2 hrs 2 mins (2004-02-23 00:22:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
試訳「葉巻遊びは今度もお預けだね」なお、モニカ事件は葉巻で象徴させた。また、際どいジョークの表¥現は難しいですね。
Please present the asker¥'s trial translation, before closing this site.
Reference:
6 days
お気に召さない？
There are so many meticulous explanations anyway,JB's souvenir cannot be accepted by MP.Besides number of letters is restricted in subtitle. I think in this case only around four letters.So under considering traditional James Bond's affected way of talking,(performing by Sean Connery or Roger Moore)I think "お気に召さない？”is suit for the translation.
Discussion
Yes, as snowbees pointed out, there're lots of "overly obvious sexual jokes". (This is why I indicated this question as "offensive")
For instance:
Bond is assigned to protest Electra, one of two bondgirls in the film.
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JB: Shadow operation?
M: Remember, shadow stays in front or behind... never on top!
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Sorry for being such an anorak, but I really love the bond film and expecially puns, sexual jokes and what's called legendary 007 wits in the series.
They were in kissing distance (about the length of cigar) when JB utters the word "Close but no cigar".
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MP "James! Have you brought any souvenir from you trip? Chocolate? An engagement ring?"]
JB puts a metal cigar case right in front of her on the desk.
MP "(coolly) How romantic! I know exactly where to put that"
MP throws it into a rubbish bin (camera closes up so that viewer can see stick shaped object goes into a "hole")
JB "No Maoney Penny... Story of our relationship... Close... but no cigar."
M's interaction through the intercom.
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I think it will make the scene bit more clear to you. You can add notes or change the answer, dublicate posting... all welcomed.