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too late

idiom
Meaning

Used to indicate that something is ineffective or useless because it happens after the best time for it.


Examples
SIMPLE

I wanted to buy tickets, but it was too late.

CONTEXTUAL

He tried to apologize for the argument, but she told him it was too late to fix things.

COMPLEX

By the time the government finally decided to intervene in the economic crisis, it was too late to prevent the market from collapsing.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a day late and a dollar short

    Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.

  2. 02

    as of late

    Lately; recently.

  3. 03

    fashionably late

    Arriving behind time to an event which does not normally require one to be punctual.

  4. 04

    get late

    To approach nighttime.

  5. 05

    late model

    Recently designed or fabricated; new.

  6. 06

    late to the party

    Late in taking an action or adopting an idea.

  7. 07

    run late

    To be late; to fail to be on time.

  8. 08

    too little, too late

    Used as a predicate or a pro-sentence to indicate insufficiency.

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