Phrase guide

miss the boat

verb · 1 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

verb

Meaning 1

To fail to take advantage of an opportunity; to overlook or be too late to pursue an option or course of action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • The price discount ended yesterday and I just missed the boat on a great deal.
  • As for food delivery technology, our company missed the boat, the harbor, and the ocean.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Allusion to failing to catch a boat in time, effectively “missing” the boat. Popular since the 1920s.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 錯過機會 /错过机会 (cuòguò jīhuì) — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Dutch: de boot missen — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Finnish: myöhästyä junasta — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • French: manquer le coche — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • French: rater le coche — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • French: manquer le bateau — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Icelandic: verða af tækifæri — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Italian: perdere il treno — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Polish: przegapiać okazję — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Polish: przegapić okazję — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Romanian: pierde trenul — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Spanish: perder el tren — fail to take advantage of an opportunity
  • Turkish: fırsatı kaçırmak — fail to take advantage of an opportunity