# close enough for government work

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/close-enough-for-government-work
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- The shelf is slightly crooked, but it is close enough for government work.
- I did not paint the corners perfectly, but it is close enough for government work.
- Although the final report contained minor formatting errors, the manager decided it was close enough for government work and submitted it before the deadline.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.