miss the boat
/ˌmɪs ðə ˈbəʊt/INFORMAL · C2
Meaning
to lose a chance by acting too slowly
Examples
- 1Tickets sold out in an hour, so anyone who didn't book early missed the boat.
- 2I waited too long to apply, and I missed the boat on that job.
- 3The cheap flats sold within a week; we thought about it for too long and missed the boat.
- 4Hurry up and send your form, or you'll miss the boat, because the course is nearly full.
- 5Has our town missed the boat on young families, now that the new houses are being built elsewhere?
Grammar
miss is regular: missed, missing. The chance often follows on.
More idioms about success
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →fall flatto fail to have the effect that was intendedmake the gradeto be good enough to succeeda flash in the pana success that happens once and does not lastriding highbeing very successful at the momentcome up trumpsto succeed or help when people did not expect itgo belly upto fail, especially as a business
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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