miss the boat

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

Verb

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

Translations

 * American Sign Language: (TRAIN) 1@NearHand-FingerUp-1@InsideChesthigh-FingerUp 1@NearHand-FingerForward-1@DistalInsideChesthigh-FingerForward A@Chest-PalmBack CirclesVert
 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin: 錯過機會
 * Dutch: de boot missen
 * Finnish: myöhästyä junasta
 * French: ,
 * Icelandic: verða af tækifæri
 * Italian: perdere il treno
 * Polish: przegapiać okazję, przegapić okazję
 * Russian: по́езд ушёл, в пролёте
 * Spanish: perder el tren