2006-08-05 11:13:03 · 26 answers · asked by mansour259 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
the phrase is "give the man a cigar" only
2006-08-05 11:15:38 · update #1
thank you guys all for your help. it was really useful
2006-08-05 11:21:13 · update #2
Cigars used to be given as prizes at carnivals and gimmicks for salesmen and such, "give the man a cigar" became a cliche' that means you are correct.
2006-08-05 11:18:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
In the old days at carnivals, cigars were given as prizes for winning a game. When someone gets something right, or makes a good point, someone says "Give that man a cigar!" to acknowledge his success.
(I went back to read some of the answers and didnt mean to all but say exactly what another had said. Great minds think alike!!)
2006-08-05 11:17:46 · answer #2 · answered by billydeer_2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cigars were given away as carnival prizes at Coney Island. Instead of a stuffed animal when you threw a ball and knocked over the bottles (or any other game of alleged skill), the hawker (the guy running the game) would shout "Give the man a cigar!" This inticed other men to put their pennies down to try to win a cigar too.
Today, "Give that man a cigar" means "I recognize you did something well." Frequently "cookie" is also substituted for "cigar".
2006-08-05 11:19:06 · answer #3 · answered by Wicked Mickey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that someone made a really good point in conversation, or did something wonderful, like a great play during sports.
It comes from old time carnival games, where a cigar was often the prize for winning the game.
Today, it's used sarcastically, like if you were to trip and fall while running the bases, or when you are the last person to understand the joke.
2006-08-05 11:20:12 · answer #4 · answered by Polymath 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just a form of congratulations... like way back when on the movies... the guy's wife has a baby and all the men smoke a cigar to congratulate the father.... better not to smoke... perhaps they should change it to 'give the man a carrot stick!'
2006-08-05 11:20:39 · answer #5 · answered by Jill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It comes from the old days when carnival games used to give out cigars sometimes as prizes.
2006-08-05 11:16:58 · answer #6 · answered by Death 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
from word-detective.com
sideshow pitchmen, not storekeepers, coined the phrase. Cigars were apparently popular carnival prizes in all sorts of games of chance before the invention of purple plush stuffed animals.
the similar phrase 'close but no cigar' has the same origin
2006-08-05 11:23:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means that he has something to celebrate. It doesn't always mean to literally give him a cigar, of course. It just means, he just did something good or something good happened to him, so he deserves a celebratory cigar.
2006-08-05 11:17:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means to reward him for something... IE when a couple has a baby, cigars are usually given out as a reward or congratulations..
2006-08-05 11:17:43 · answer #9 · answered by Peter M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cigars used to be the prize for some games in carnivals.
2006-08-05 11:16:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋