功虧一簣 [－亏－篑]

Jyutping gung1 kwai1 jat1 gwai6
Pinyin gōng kuī yī kuì

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. lit. to ruin the enterprise for the sake of one basketful
  2. to fail through lack of a final effort
  3. to spoil the ship for a ha'penny worth of tar (idiom)
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 語句
    爭少少​就​成功​或者​完成​一件​事
    to fail by a narrow margin
    • 就嚟去到終點先至仆親，真係功虧一簣。
      就嚟去到终点先至仆亲，真系功亏一篑。
      She tripped over herself when she is close to the finish line, so close, yet so far.
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. phrase, idiomatic
    to fall short of success due to the lack of a final effort
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    功亏一篑
    功虧一簣
    gung1 kwai1 jat1 gwai6
    • to fail by a narrow margin
  2. Cantonese
    就嚟去到终点先至仆亲，真系功亏一篑。
    就嚟去到終點先至仆親，真係功虧一簣。
    • She tripped over herself when she is close to the finish line, so close, yet so far.