miss (redirected from missing the bus)

give something a miss (informal)

to not take part in an activity. I think I'll give the barbecue a miss. I'm on a diet.

See also: give

someone's heart misses/skips a beat

if someone's heart misses a beat, they suddenly feel so excited or frightened that their heart beats faster. Ben walked into the room and her heart skipped a beat.

See also: beat, heart, skip

hit and/or miss

if something is hit and miss, you cannot be certain of its quality because it is sometimes good and sometimes bad. We used a cheap printer, but the quality was a bit hit or miss. Weather forecasting used to be a very hit-and-miss affair.

See also: hit

not miss a trick

to not fail to notice and use a good opportunity. You can rely on Sarah to get what she wants, she never misses a trick.

See also: trick

A miss is as good as a mile.

something that you say which means that failing to do something when you almost succeeded is no better than failing very badly. I've tried to reassure him that he only failed by three percent but the way he sees it, a miss is as good as a mile.

See also: good, mile

miss the boat

to be too late to get something that you want. Anyone still hoping for concert tickets will discover they have missed the boat. I sent off my university application at the last minute and nearly missed the boat.

See also: boat

miss the point

to fail to understand what is important about something. I think you've missed the point. It's not the money that's the problem, it's the fact that she's not consulting him when she spends it.

See also: point

a near miss

a situation in which an accident or unpleasant situation almost happened and was only just avoided. I managed to brake just in time but it was a near miss.

See also: near

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hit or miss

not planned carefully and as likely to be bad as to be good. Hiring has often been hit or miss – we never really knew whether a person was qualified until after they started working here.

See also: hit

miss out (on something)

to fail to use or enjoy an opportunity. Other people my age are married and have families, and I am beginning to feel I am missing out. We missed out on a chance to get a cheaper mortgage.

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.

See also: boat

miss the point

to fail to understand what is important about something. In case anyone missed the point of its weapons tests, the military practiced an island invasion the next month.

See also: point

not miss a beat

to not pause. George didn't miss a beat when we asked him what kind of car we should buy for our daughter. Even when she's asked embarrassing questions, she doesn't skip a beat.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form without missing a beat: Ella forgot the words she had memorized but, without missing a beat, she made up new ones.

Etymology: based on the idea of the regular beat of music or the heart

See also: beat

you can't miss it

it is very easy to find. To get to the church, go to the next traffic light and make a left – you can't miss it.

See also: can't