late in the day
1 of 1phrase/leɪt ɪn ðə deɪ/
1
too late or close to the end of a particular period or situation to be useful or effective
The origin of the idiom "late in the day" can be traced back to the concept of measuring time based on the progression of daylight hours. The phrase draws upon the literal meaning of the word "late," which refers to something occurring towards the end of a period or after the expected or usual time. In this case, "the day" refers to the period of daylight. it It is often used to convey a sense of missed opportunity or limited impact, suggesting that something is happening or being considered when it may be too late to make a significant difference.
- It's late in the day to start studying for the exam; you should have begun earlier.
- The team is discussing potential changes, but it might be late in the day to implement them before the project deadline.
- She realizes it's late in the day to pursue a new career path, given her current commitments.
- They discovered the issue late in the day, after most of the work had already been completed.
- He made the decision late in the day, and it had significant consequences for the outcome of the project.