miss the boat

Значение

to lose a chance by acting too slowly

Упустить шанс, потому что не успел.

Примеры

1. 1Tickets sold out in an hour, so anyone who didn't book early missed the boat.
2. 2I waited too long to apply, and I missed the boat on that job.
3. 3The cheap flats sold within a week; we thought about it for too long and missed the boat.
4. 4Hurry up and send your form, or you'll miss the boat, because the course is nearly full.
5. 5Has our town missed the boat on young families, now that the new houses are being built elsewhere?

Грамматика

miss — правильный глагол: missed, missing. Упущенное часто идёт после on.