ENGLISH
REFERENCE

close enough for government work

idiom
Meaning

Adequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of improving.


Examples
SIMPLE

The shelf is slightly crooked, but it is close enough for government work.

CONTEXTUAL

I did not paint the corners perfectly, but it is close enough for government work.

COMPLEX

Although the final report contained minor formatting errors, the manager decided it was close enough for government work and submitted it before the deadline.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    busy work

    Work or activity performed with the intention or result of occupying time, and not necessarily to accomplish something productive; routine work of low priority undertaken for the sake of avoiding idleness.

  2. 02

    can't get enough

    Greatly enjoys; likes a lot.

  3. 03

    close in on

    To enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse.

  4. 04

    close on the heels of

    Near in time or place; very close.

  5. 05

    close one eye

    to look the other way, to deliberately ignore or overlook (a mistake or transgression).

  6. 06

    close one's eyes

    To ignore something.

  7. 07

    close one's mind

    To refuse to understand things.

  8. 08

    close season

    A situation or period in which some activity is forbidden or discontinued.

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