that ship has sailed
Meaning: It is too late; the opportunity has passed.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “I thought about asking for my old job back, but that ship has sailed.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: A sailing ship left port when tide and wind allowed, and once it was gone, there was no catching it. The figurative sense of a missed chance is modern, and no first use has been pinned down.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Les carottes sont cuites — literally: The carrots are cooked
More idioms — Daily Life
- talk behind someone's back — To say unkind things about someone when they are not present.
- be on pins and needles — To be very anxious while waiting for something.
- make a killing — To make a lot of money quickly.
- lie low — To stay out of sight and avoid attention.
- get lucky — To succeed in having a sexual encounter.
- shout it from the rooftops — To tell everyone about something, openly and loudly.
More English idioms
- be a pain in the neck — To be very annoying.
- have one's cake and eat it too — To want two things that cannot both be had.
- muddy the waters — To make a situation confusing, often on purpose.
- be bone idle — To be extremely lazy.
- like pulling teeth — Extremely difficult, especially when trying to get someone to cooperate.
- have the wind in one's sails — To be doing well and moving forward with confidence and momentum.