Phrase guide

a day late and a dollar short

adj · adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, idiomatic, predicative

Examples

  • His apology was a day late and a dollar short.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Adverbial use of the adjectival form.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, idiomatic

Examples

  • Help arrived a day late and a dollar short.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: s křížkem po funuse — adverbial use of the adjectival form
  • Italian: troppo poco, troppo tardi — adverbial use of the adjectival form
  • Polish: rychło w czas — adverbial use of the adjectival form