List of English idioms starting with M

Showing 1-3 of 3

Photo of hay bales

Make hay while the sun shines

The idiom make hay while the sun shines draws from farming practices, where you should get as much done as possible at harvest time while the sun is shining, or your hay will spoil from getting wet.
It means that you should take advantage of the good times to get work done.

We have a lot of customers at the moment, let's make hay while the sun shines!

Photo of a jigsaw cutting a board

Measure twice, cut once

Measure twice, cut once is a phrase from carpentry and tailoring that reminds you that you should check your measurements and then check them again before you cut, so you do not make a mistake and waste your materials.

Generated image of someone missing a ferry

Missed the Boat

If you missed the boat it means you missed a good chance or opportunity. If you wait too long, it may be gone. The origin of this phrase is literal, if you miss a boat it leaves without you.
A similar idiom is that ship has sailed.

He took so long to get his application together he missed the boat.