What is the Meaning of the Phrases ‘Miss the Bus’ or ‘Miss the Boat’?

To miss the bus means —

• to miss an opportunity;
• to fail to take advantage of a situation;
• to lose a good chance of doing something.

This expression is an allusion to the scenario of a person reaching late and missing the bus.

For example —

“I missed the bus; I should have invested in Apple stock when I had the chance.”

The example is self-explanatory.

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Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.