A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

close enough for government work • close enough
for jazz
close enough for government work —(U.S. ironic) is used to
reflect one’s low opinion of the end result, quality of a product,
etc.: For decades, the East German public was damned with
merchandise that was “close enough for government work.”
close enough for jazz —is used to say that while smth. is not
perfect, it is close enough in quality to the target to be ac-
ceptable: The data may not be totally accurate, but it is close
enough for jazz. We trust it.
Note: 
Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase
close but no cigar
— used of a situation when one falls just short
of a successful outcome: In my last rejection the editor told me
that this particular piece was “close but no cigar.”
close one’s eyes • close your eyes and think of
 England
close one’s eyes —(also: shut one’s eyes) pretend that one has
no knowledge of smth.; ignore smth.: If the authorities choose
to close their eyes, the only thing that will pry them open is
public pressure.
close your eyes and think of England —(also: shut your eyes and
think of England) a humorous advice to smb. faced with an
unpleasant task (originally a wedding-night advice for Victorian
brides to succumb to unwanted sex): Live large. Tip big. And
when they bring the check, just close your eyes and think of
England.
close something down • shut something down
close something down —(of a shop, factory, etc.) cause to cease
functioning: The shop had been closed down following the
medical inspection report.
shut something down —
1
. = close something down: The severe
winter shut many factories down this year. 2. (of an engine,
piece of equipment, etc.) turn off: They shut the machine down
so they could repair it. 3. stop water or electricity supply: On
Monday the power supply will be shut down for the whole
building.