close enough for government work
Meaning
Adjective
- Good enough; not worth the time or effort of perfecting.
Related
Similar words
- close enough
- good enough
- good enough for government work
Origin
- The phrase was created in World War II with the usage meaning that a product met the highest standards of quality and would not be accepted by Uncle Sam if it did not.
- The phrase was used as early as 1906 in Canada with the usage being neither disparaging nor better than non-government work. It was used disparagingly as early as 1960.
Modern English dictionary
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