be too late

/bi tuː leɪt/

phrase★Intermediate

general

To arrive or act after the appropriate or expected time, missing an opportunity or deadline.

We were too late to get tickets for the concert.

This means they arrived after all the tickets were sold out.

Don't be too late for the meeting; it starts at 9 AM sharp.

This is a warning not to arrive after the meeting has begun.

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This phrase is commonly used to express regret or urgency about missing something important.

Collocations

be too late tomiss the opportunity to do somethingtoo late formiss a specific event or deadline

just in timephrase

arrive or act at the last possible moment

better late than neverproverb

it's better to do something late than not at all

Use this phrase to emphasize the importance of timeliness.

This phrase often conveys a sense of disappointment or missed opportunity.

Use 'be too late' when referring to missing a deadline or opportunity, not just being delayed.

The phrase combines 'be' (a state of existence) with 'too late' (after the appropriate time), emphasizing the negative consequence of delay.

This phrase is often used to convey urgency or regret. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

a state of existence

verb

too

excessively

adverb

late

after the expected or appropriate time

adjective

English Dictionary