late to the party: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    USUKglobalinformalcolloquialMachine
    • Literally, arriving late to a social gathering or event.
    • Used figuratively to describe someone who becomes involved with something after most others have already participated or after an opportunity has mostly passed.

    Examples

    Beta

    • We arrived late to the party, missing the first hour of music and appetizers.

      We arrived late to the party, missing the first hour of music and appetizers.

    • Tom was late to the party again, apologizing for the traffic delay on his way over.

      Tom was late to the party again, apologizing for the traffic delay on his way over.

    • Guests trickled in late to the party, with some showing up after midnight.

      Guests trickled in late to the party, with some showing up after midnight.

    • She felt awkward being late to the party, as everyone else had already started dancing.

      She felt awkward being late to the party, as everyone else had already started dancing.

  • 2.

    USUKglobalinformalcolloquialMachine
    • Being slow to adopt, recognize, or respond to a trend, idea, or development; coming to awareness or action after it has become common or established.

    Examples

    Beta

    • I was late to the party on the social media trend, only just creating my first account last week.

      I was late to the party on the social media trend, only just creating my first account last week.

    • Many companies were late to the party in adopting remote work, losing ground to more flexible competitors.

      Many companies were late to the party in adopting remote work, losing ground to more flexible competitors.

    • She realized she was late to the party when everyone was already discussing the new technology at work.

      She realized she was late to the party when everyone was already discussing the new technology at work.

Examples:

  • EN: I may be a little late to the party tonight.
    ES: Puede que se me haga un poco tarde para la fiesta de esta noche.
  • EN: Hurry up, you're going to be late to the party.
    ES: Ándele sañor que llegas tarde a fiestas
  • EN: But aren't we going to be late to the party?
    ES: ¿No llegaremos tarde a la fiesta?
  • EN: I come late to the party?
    ES: - ¿Llego tarde a la fiesta?
  • EN: Come one...we gonna be late to the party.
    ES: Vamos osito que llegamos tarde a la fiesta.
  • EN: They always argued, and he was late to the party.
    ES: Siempre sostuvo, y llegaba tarde a la fiesta.
  • EN: Just because I was five minutes late to the party!
    ES: El hecho de que llegué cinco minutos tarde a la fiesta!
  • EN: I'm always late to the party.
    ES: Siempre llego tarde a la fiesta.
  • EN: - Well, you're a little late to the party.
    ES: Bueno, va a llegar un poco tarde a la fiesta.
  • EN: Let's forget that you're late to the party and be glad that you did come.
    ES: Olvidémonos de que llegas tarde a la fiesta y concentrémonos en tu llegada.
  • EN: Edwin would be angry if I'm late to the party
    ES: Edwin se enfadara si llego tarde al partido
  • EN: - Little late to the party. - Did it help?
    ES: - Ya no estoy para fiestas.
  • EN: Starbuck, late to the party as usual.
    ES: Starbuck, llegas tarde como siempre.
  • EN: Looks like we're late to the party.
    ES: Parece que llegamos tarde a la fiesta.
  • EN: I'm afraid Madulli's a little late to the party on that one.
    ES: Me temo que Madulli llegó un poco tarde a la fiesta con eso.

Related Idioms

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Source: Wiktionary

late to the party | Idiomator