missed the boat
Lost the chance
To miss the boat is to lose an opportunity by acting too late.
The image is of arriving at the dock after the vessel has departed—you can't board what's already gone.
I meant to buy tickets, but I missed the boat and the show sold out.
Sometimes implies the chance won't come again.
- ship has sailedMoment for action gone
- lateNot on time
- squanderedCarelessly used up
- too little too lateInsufficient and belated remedy
- foregoneAlready certain beforehand
bad timing · regret · chance · unpreparedness · blew it · dropped the ball · elude · procrastination · indecision · hurry · misjudgment · opportunity · window of opportunity · rueful · forfeited · oversight · hesitation · tardy
- travel idiomshit the road, end of the road, crossroads, smooth sailing, take the wheel
- life lessonslesson learned, moral, lessons learned, life lessons, parable
- time pressurerush, against the clock, rushed, clock is ticking, urgency