close enough for government work

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Adjective

close enough for government work (not comparable)

  1. (US, idiomatic, humorous, derogatory) Adequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of improving.
  2. (Canada, idiomatic, humorous) Acceptable; equivalent to government work, neither worse nor better.

Synonyms