miss the boat en · VERB
Etymology
Allusion to failing to catch a boat in time, effectively “missing” the boat. Popular since the 1920s.
Meanings
-
(intransitive) To fail to take advantage of an opportunity; to overlook or be too late to pursue an option or course of action.
The price discount ended yesterday and I just missed the boat on a great deal.
[Father:] How about you? Any kids? [Miller:] Yeah, no. I missed that boat.
2015 November 23, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, “Dulcinea”, in The Expanse, season 1, episode 1:As for food delivery technology, our company missed the boat, the harbor, and the ocean.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| misses the boat | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| missing the boat | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| missed the boat | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| missed the boat | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Synonyms
miss out · that ship has sailed
Translations (13)
tr fırsatı kaçırmak (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · ro pierde trenul (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · pl przegapić okazję (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · fr manquer le bateau (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · it perdere il treno (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · pl przegapiać okazję (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · fr rater le coche (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · es perder el tren (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · nl de boot missen (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · is verða af tækifæri (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · fi myöhästyä junasta (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · fr manquer le coche (fail to take advantage of an opportunity) · cmn 錯過機會 /错过机会 (fail to take advantage of an opportunity)