be like ships that pass in the night

To not see very much of someone; to not be in the same place and at the same time as someone very often. Used especially of two or more people who live together. Ever since Georgina started managing the restaurant at night, she and I have been like ships that pass in the night. We've had a guy renting our spare room for the last two months. We were worried it would feel crowded, but he works so much that we're like ships that pass in the night with him.

like ships that pass in the night

Unable to see very much of someone; not often in the same place and at the same time as someone else. Used especially of those who live together. Ever since Georgina started managing the restaurant at night, she and I have been like ships that pass in the night. We've had a guy renting our spare room for the last two months. We were worried it would feel crowded, but he works so much that it's felt like ships that pass in the night.

be (like) ˌships that ˌpass in the ˈnight

(informal) (of people) meet for a short time, by chance, and perhaps for the only time in your lives: We met on a course in Spain and had a wonderful time together. But we both knew that we were just ships that pass in the night.This is from a poem by Longfellow: ‘Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing,...’.