ship sailed
Boat already gone
When someone says that ship has sailed, they mean the opportunity has passed—it's too late to act on something.
The phrase evokes a vessel that has already departed the harbor, leaving you standing on the dock.
Often used to dismiss revisiting old decisions or relationships: I thought about applying, but that ship sailed years ago.
- voyageJourney by sea
- oceanMassive saltwater body
- high seasWaters beyond jurisdiction
- open waterUnobstructed body navigable freely
- departedHaving left
anchor · harbor · captain · deck · mast · vessel · crew · all hands on deck · waves · sea · embarked · maiden voyage · journey · port · bon voyage · hull · bow · stern
- No turning backpoint of no return, Rubicon, burn bridges, all or nothing, crossed the line
- regretswhat if, hindsight, second thoughts, wrong choice, squandered
- Point of no returnRubicon, threshold, tipping point, event horizon, no going back
- endingsending, the end, finish, close, final