miss the boat

phrase

: to fail to take advantage of an opportunity
missed the boat on buying stock in the company early on

Examples of miss the boat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
McRae believes her Tater Tots missed the boat on nuggets she’s dropped about the single in recent months, pointing to her headlining set at Lollapalooza over the summer. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of miss the boat was in 1930

Rhymes for miss the boat

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Browse Nearby Words

misstep
miss the boat
miss the forest for the trees
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Miss the boat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miss%20the%20boat. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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