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late
fashionably late
Arriving after the arranged time to a meeting or event that does not require strict punctuality, especially so as to give the appearance of nonchalance or having been preoccupied by other social engagements. A: "John's party is starting in 20 minutes, so we'd better get moving soon!" B: "No one will even be there by then. Haven't you ever heard of being fashionably late?" Mary doesn't like to appear overeager when she goes to parties, so she always makes a point of being fashionably late.
late model
Especially regarding an automobile, of a relatively recent design or model. After I got my promotion, I decided to trade in my clunky old Volkswagen for a snazzy, late model sedan.
a day late and a dollar short
Too late to be of any benefit. Jake tried to repair his relationship with his girlfriend after forgetting her birthday, but she viewed his efforts as a day late and a dollar short.
It is never too late
It is never impossible (to do something), regardless of how old one is. The phrase is typically used to encourage someone to try to accomplish something, especially late in life or long after it is usually accomplished by others. My grandmother got her master's degree at age 85, proving that it is never too late to accomplish your goals. You can still achieve the life you want. It is never too late.
Better late than never.
Prov. Cliché Doing something late is better than not doing it. I'm sorry I'm late to the party. Better late than never, right? Jill: Lisa's birthday was two weeks ago. Should I send her a card now? Jane: Better late than never.
day late and a dollar short
late and ill-prepared. Tommy, you seem to show up a day late and a dollar short all the time. You need to get organized.
It is never too late to learn.
and You are never too old to learn.Prov. You can always learn something new. Alan: Help me make the salad dressing. Jane: But I don't know anything about making salad dressing. Alan: You are never too old to learn. Grandma decided to take a course in using computers. "It's never too late to learn," she said.
It is never too late to mend.
Prov. It is never too late to apologize for something you have done or try to repair something you have done wrong. Sue: I still miss Tony, but it's been a year since our big fight and we haven't spoken to each other since. Mother: Well, it's never too late to mend; why don't you call him up and apologize?
keep late hours
to stay up or stay out until very late at night. I'm always tired because I keep late hours. If I didn't keep late hours, I wouldn't sleep so late in the morning.
late bloomer
1. Lit. a plant that blooms later than similar plants or that blooms late in the season. There are a few late bloomers in the garden, but by fall, we don't care much anymore about flowers.
2. Fig. a person who finally develops a useful or superior skill or talents later than expected or desired. Joseph was a late bloomer, but turned out to be a formidable scholar in the long run.
late in life
Fig. when one is old. Grandma injured her hip running. She's exercising rather late in life. Isn't it sort of late in life for your grandparents to buy a house?
late in the day
Fig. far along in a project or activity; too late in a project or activity for action, decisions, etc., to be taken. It was a bit late in the day for him to apologize. It's late in the day to try to change the plans.
late unpleasantness
Euph. the U.S. Civil War. (Old.) The town courthouse was burned in the late unpleasantness. Many of my ancestors lost their lives in the late unpleasantness.
of late
lately. Have you seen Sally of late? We haven't had an opportunity to eat out of late.
stay up late
to remain awake and out of bed later than usual. I am in the practice of staying up late. I can't stay up late three nights in a row.
too little, too late
Prov. Not enough help to save the situation, and arriving too late. After a lifetime of bad diet and no exercise, Lorna tried to save her health by improving her habits, but it was too little, too late. Fred: I know how to keep my business from going bankrupt. I'll invest all my savings in it. Bill: I'm sorry, Fred; even that much would be too little, too late.
better late than never
it is good this happened now although it should have happened sooner I guess it's better late than never, but getting the award after he died strikes me as less than satisfactory.
a day late and a dollar short
not enough to be useful The government's attempts at reform were a day late and a dollar short.
late in the day
delayed almost too long Isn't it rather late in the day to say you're sorry?
of late
(slightly formal) recently She hasn't been feeling well of late.
too little, too late
not enough and not given soon enough to be useful Financial help for food pantries and soup kitchens may be too little, too late.
Better late than never.
something that you say which means it is better for someone or something to be late than never to arrive or to happen 'Karen's card arrived 2 weeks after my birthday.' 'Oh well, better late than never.'
late in the day
too late to be useful (often + for ) The new gun laws came a little late in the day for those whose friends or families were killed in the massacre. (often + to do sth) It seems rather late in the day to announce that diet drinks might cause cancer.
See Better late than nevertoo little, too late
if the help that is given to a person is described as too little, too late, there is not enough of it and it was given too late to be useful The government have finally decided to put some money into research but it's too little, too late.
better late than never
Being tardy is better than not at all, as in We've been waiting for you for an hour-but better late than never. This phrase, first recorded about 1200, appears in several early English proverb collections, often with the added but better never late. Today it is often used in exasperation over a delay, as in the example.
keep late hours
Stay awake until late at night. For example, Never call Ethel before noon; she keeps late hours and sleeps all morning.
late in life
In old age. For example, Isn't it rather late in life for your grandmother to go trekking in Nepal?
late in the day
Far advanced; also, too far advanced. For example, It's late in the day to change the kitchen layout, since we've already ordered the cabinets , or It's a bit late in the day for apologizing. [Late 1700s]
of late
Recently, lately, as in She's been very quiet of late; is something wrong? This idiom uses late as a noun instead of an adjective, a usage dating from about 1250. The idiom dates from the early 1400s.
too little, too late
Inadequate as a remedy and not in time to be effective, as in The effort to divert the stream into a corn field was too little too late-the houses were already flooded . This term originated in the military, where it was applied to reinforcements that were insufficient and arrived too late to be of help. [First half of 1900s]
Later
and Late and Laters interj. Good-bye. It’s time to cruise. Later. CU. Laters.
Late
verb of late
Recently; lately: was feeling better of late.