late in the day
Afternoon wearing on
Late in the day means at an advanced stage, when opportunities have narrowed or time is running short.
Literally, it refers to afternoon or evening hours.
Figuratively, it suggests a point when action should already have been taken: It's a bit late in the day to be changing the plans.
The phrase often carries mild reproach—someone waited too long.
- crunch timeHigh-pressure final stretch
- down to the wireUnresolved until the final moment
- overduePast expected arrival
- behind scheduleNot on time
- eleventh hourLatest possible time
final hour · zero hour · belated · at the last minute · endgame · closing · last resort · under the gun · against the clock · point of no return · deadline · overtime · now or never · in the nick of time · delayed · sunset · high stakes · twilight
late in the dayfirst thing
What comes earliest
bright and early · at dawn · from the beginning · early on · in the morning
late in the dayahead of time
Before something is due
early · proactive · in advance · beforehand · preemptively
late in the dayat the beginning
At the start
early on · from the start · from the get-go · up front · initially
late, lately, later, latest, lateness, latish, daylight, daytime