where does the term "horseshoes and handgrenades" come from?

Question

where does the term "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades" come from?--is what i meant haha

Answer 1

The above answers are correct. I will just expound on the subject. The game of horseshoes permits a player to be rewarded one point for being "close". Close is defined by using another shoe to measure the distance of the thrown shoe from the horseshoe peg. If the thrown shoe is one shoe (measured from open end to open end) from the peg, the player is given a point. Therefore, in horseshoes, close is good enough for one point. Similarly, a hand grenade does not have to strike a target directly to cause mortal injury. The explosion and resulting shrapnel will do its work quite effectively. Though the outcome of throwing a horseshoe and a hand grenade are directly opposite, the idea of being "close" produces a definite result.

Answer 2

It's a saying: "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."

Answer 3

It was originally part of a phrase used when someone stated that they 'came close' or 'almost' accomplished something. "'Close' only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades." was used as a reply to such a statement.

Answer 4

I get it. Unless it s playing horseshoes or using a grenade, you ll never get anywhere being close, only succeeding.