Close only counts in horseshoes

close only counts in horseshoes (and hand grenades)

proverb Being nearly successful or accurate is not the same as being successful or accurate; being close to achieving something does not provide any benefit. It doesn't matter that we only lost the game by two points—we still lost! And close only counts in horseshoes. A: "You should be proud that you came so close to being valedictorian." B: "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."
See also: close, count, hand, horseshoe
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Close only counts in horseshoes (and hand grenades).

Prov. Coming close but not succeeding is not good enough. I came close to winning the election, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
See also: close, count, horseshoe
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • close only counts in horseshoes (and hand grenades)
  • horseshoe
  • deceive
  • appearance
  • appearances can be deceiving
  • take (something) with a grain of salt
  • take (something) with a pinch of salt
  • take something with a pinch of salt
  • take with a pinch of salt
  • that's my story and I'm sticking to it
References in periodicals archive
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, some say.
For gamblers, almost counts: near-misses activate the same brain circuitry as wins
I very nearly made it into heaven, but as all the living know: close only counts in horseshoes and sex.
How I Almost Made It into Heaven