- It's too late for something; the opportunity has passed and is no longer available.
Explanation
Origin
- Based on the literal image of a ship leaving the dock.
- Once the ship has departed (sailed), anyone who wasn't on board has missed their chance to travel on it.
- The metaphor extends this idea of a missed departure to any lost opportunity. Dates back to the late 19th or early 20th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Missed the boat
- Blew it / Blew your chance
- Snooze you lose
- Too slow, Joe / Slowpoke
Milder:
- It's too late now.
- That opportunity has passed.
- We missed the deadline/window.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal.
- It's a common and generally inoffensive way to state that something is no longer possible.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Fairly straightforward idiom, unlikely to be taken literally unless the context is genuinely about ships.
Examples
- I thought about applying for that scholarship, but the deadline was last Friday. That ship has sailed.
- You should have bought those concert tickets when they went on sale. That ship has sailed now, they're sold out.
- He wanted to apologize, but she'd already moved on. That ship had sailed.
Dialogue
Alex: Do you think the company would still consider my proposal from last year?
Ben: They implemented a completely new strategy six months ago. Regarding that old proposal, I think that ship has sailed, mate.
Alex: Yeah, you're probably right. Oh well.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Thinking about all the Bitcoin I *didn't* buy in 2015. Yeah... that ship has sailed. 😠#crypto #regrets #investing
- Comment: Someone asked if I still wanted to join their startup. LOL, they launched 2 years ago! That ship has sailed, my friend. 😂
- Post: Reminder: Early bird tickets end tonight! Don't be the one saying 'that ship has sailed' tomorrow. 😉 #conference #discount #deadline
Response Patterns
- Oh well.
- Too bad.
- Yeah, I figured.
- Shame.
- Maybe next time.
- Water under the bridge. (If referring to letting go of the past)
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing That ship has sailed:
- Acknowledge the finality: Okay, understood.
- Ask about alternatives: So, what's the plan B? / Is there another way?
- Express regret (if appropriate): Ah, that's a pity.
- Move the conversation on: Alright, let's think about something else then.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a concluding statement about a past opportunity, usually said in response to a question or suggestion.
Intonation
- Often said with a tone of finality or slight resignation.
- Stress usually falls on ship and sailed. That SHIP has SAILED.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across all generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in all major English-speaking regions.