Miss the boat

Meaning

The idiom "miss the boat" means to miss an opportunity or chance that would have been beneficial or important. It can also refer to missing out on a development or event that is happening, or even a person who has left or passed away.

Usage

• I missed the boat on buying that house last year, and now it's too late.
• The company missed the boat on investing in new technology, which cost them dearly in the long run.
• My friend missed out on a chance to travel abroad because he didn't apply for the visa in time.
• I feel like I missed the boat on meeting some of my celebrity crushes.
• We missed the boat on seeing that concert, which was supposed to be amazing.

Roots and History

The exact origin of the idiom is not clear, but it has been used in English since at least the 16th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the fact that boats would often sail away before passengers could board, leaving them "out of luck." Another theory suggests that it may have originated in American English and was used to describe missing a train or plane. However, there is no concrete evidence to support either of these theories. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has remained relatively consistent. It is still used to refer to missing out on an opportunity or chance, even if that opportunity was not explicitly stated.

Synonyms in English

• miss my chance
• miss my shot
• squander my chances
• let my chance slip away
• lose my moment

Synonyms in other languages

• French: manquer d'avoir une opportunité
• Spanish: perder una oportunidad
• German: verpasst eine Chance
• Italian: perdere una opportunità
• Chinese: 错过机会 (errǎo jīhuì)

Similar Idioms

• mind your own beeswax

• pros and cons

• long shot