miss the boat

miss an opportunity

In Spanish

miss an opportunity

Examples

If we don't act now, we'll miss the boat entirely.
She missed the boat by not applying for the job sooner.
They missed the boat on investing in that company when it was affordable.

When it's used

Used in informal contexts to indicate that someone has missed an opportunity. It is a common expression in everyday conversations, especially in business or personal situations where timely action was needed.

The common mistake

Spanish speakers sometimes mistakenly say 'lose the boat', which is not English. The correct idiom is 'miss the boat'.

Related idioms

hit the nail on the head
say exactly the right thing
cost an arm and a leg
be very expensive
once in a blue moon
very rarely
break the ice
do or say something to relieve initial awkwardness

FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY

Recognising it isn't the same as using it

Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.

Practise speaking