a day after the fair en · ADV
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ə ˈdeɪ ˌæftɚ ðə ˈfɛɚ/ (General-American)
- /ə ˈdeɪ ˌɑːftə ðə ˈfɛə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
The term refers to someone who has missed a fair (“community gathering to celebrate and exhibit local achievements; event for public entertainment and trade, etc.”) by coming to visit it a day late.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) Too late.
'Captain Pendle is coming to Beorminster this week, Miss Whichello.' / 'Oh,' said the little old lady, with a satirical smile, 'you are a day after the fair, Mr Cargrim. I heard that news this morning.' / 'Indeed! But the bishop only sent for Captain Pendle yesterday.' / 'Quite so; and Miss Arden received a telegram from Captain Pendle this morning.'
1900, Fergus Hume, “Mr Baltic on the Trail”, in Bishop Pendle: Or, The Bishop’s Secret, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Rand, McNally & Company, →OCLC, page 249:You are in your loue as free as in your care, / You're come euen iuſt, a day after the fayre.
1605, [Thomas Heywood], If You Know Not Me, You Know No Bodie: Or, The Troubles of Queene Elizabeth, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot] for Nathaniel Butter, →OCLC, signatures G3, recto – G3, verso:
Relateds
late in the day · a day late and a dollar short · late to the party · close the stable door after the horse has bolted
Translations (8)
fi kun maito on jo kaatunut (Translations) · pl po zawodach (Translations) · gl pasou o día, pasou a romaría (Translations) · fr après la bataille (Translations) · la post festum (Translations) · cs s křížkem po funuse (Translations) · pl po ptokach (Translations) · pl po herbacie (Translations)