almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades

A form of close only counts in horseshoes — Coming close to achieving a goal is not good enough.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of close only counts in horseshoes.

    Maybe you're the runner-up but the first one to lose the race Almost only really counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

    2009, “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades”, in 21st Century Breakdown, performed by Green Day
Cite this entry
APA

almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/almost%20only%20counts%20in%20horseshoes%20and%20hand%20grenades

MLA

“almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/almost%20only%20counts%20in%20horseshoes%20and%20hand%20grenades. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/almost%20only%20counts%20in%20horseshoes%20and%20hand%20grenades.

Source: almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.