miss the boat
To fail to avail oneself of an opportunity

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

miss the boat
1.
to lose an opportunity that could lead to success.
He thinks we're missing the boat on improving relations with Russia.

2.
to not understand the importance of something.
I believe that people who think this issue is simply going to disappear have missed the boat.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

miss the boat
lose an opportunity
You had better hurry and get your application in or you will miss the boat and not get the job that you want.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

miss the boat
v. phr., informal To fail through slowness; to put something off until too late; do the wrong thing and lose the chance.
Mr. Brown missed the boat when he decided not to buy the house.
In college he didn't study enough so he missed the boat and failed to pass.
Ted could have married Lena but he put off asking her and missed the boat.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲