miss the boat
Say it: miss the BOHT /ˌmɪs ðə ˈbəʊt/ · idiom
What “miss the boat” means
Lose an opportunity because you act too late.
More precisely: To miss an opportunity by acting too late.
Example: “I thought about buying shares early but missed the boat.”
When to use it
When a chance has passed because someone waited too long. Informal, for tickets, jobs, deals or other opportunities.
Similar words
miss out, miss the chance
Quick check
You wait a week to book a popular course, and every place is now taken. Which phrase fits?
miss the boat or jump the gun?
Show the answer
miss the boat
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