nhỡ dịp
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To miss an opportunity: To fail to take advantage of a favorable chance or occasion, often due to oversight, delay, or circumstance.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Tôi rất tiếc vì đã nhỡ dịp gặp anh ấy khi anh ấy đến thành phố. (I regret having missed the opportunity to meet him when he came to the city.)
- Đừng để nhỡ dịp này; nó có thể không quay lại lần nữa. (Don't miss this chance; it may not come again.)
- Cô ấy nhỡ dịp mua căn nhà đó vì do dự quá lâu. (She missed the chance to buy that house because she hesitated too long.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often carries a tone of regret for a specific, often time-bound, opportunity that has passed. It implies the opportunity was recognized but not seized.
Variants and Related Words
Bỏ lỡ cơ hội (verb phrase): to let an opportunity slip away. A very close synonym.
- Anh ấy bỏ lỡ cơ hội việc làm tốt. (He let the good job opportunity slip away.)
Vuột mất (verb): to let slip, to lose hold of. Can be used for opportunities.
- Tôi sợ sẽ vuột mất dịp may này. (I'm afraid I will let this lucky chance slip away.)
Synonyms
- Miss the chance: To fail to be present for or take advantage of an opportunity.
- Miss the boat: (Idiomatic) To be too late to take advantage of an opportunity.
- Let slip: To fail to grasp or retain an opportunity.
Related Idioms
- Nhỡ tàu, nhỡ chuyến: Literally "to miss the train, to miss the trip." Used figuratively to mean missing a major opportunity or trend.
- Nếu không đầu tư bây giờ, chúng ta sẽ nhỡ tàu công nghệ. (If we don't invest now, we will miss the boat on technology.)