CLOSE ENOUGH FOR GOVERNMET WORK and CLOSE ENOUGH FOR JAZZ

Dear experts,

Would you say that the expressions CLOSE ENOUGH FOR GOVERNMET WORK and CLOSE ENOUGH FOR JAZZ are similar in meaning?

Thank you,
Yuri

Yes, almost. They both mean that whatever is being done need not be done especially well, just 'good enough'.

The motivation is slightly different though. In the jazz version of the phrase the reason for the lack of effort is the laid back and relaxed attitude jazz musicians are reputed to have. In the 'government work' version it's just attributed to a 'couldn't care less' sloppiness.

Not all jazz musicians like the 'close enough for jazz' term though. I worked with the jazz group Soft Machine way back and it was something that rather annoyed them.

Is the "jazz" version strictly UK? Here on LeftPond, we hear the "government" one frequently ... but the Jazz is new to me. Any other yanks know it?