Meaning of Idiom ‘A Day Late and a Dollar Short’
When something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too late and too little; delayed too long and ineffective; waiting too long to do something and being unprepared to do it effectively. 1Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010., 2Spears, Richard A. McGraw-Hill’s American Idioms Dictionary. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008.
Examples Of Use
“Mike’s apology was a day late and a dollar short. There is just too much water under the bridge for me to ever forgive him.”
“The company’s effort to pay it’s employers fair wages was a day late and a dollar short.”
“The governor’s half-hearted announcement was a day late and a dollar short. Nobody believes he is interested in reforming campaign finance practices in the state.”
Origin
Used since at least the early 1960’s.
More Idioms Starting with D
More Day Idioms
More Dollar Idioms
More Late Idioms
More Money Idioms
- Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees
- Put in One’s Two Cents Worth
- Pony Up
- Dirt Cheap Meaning
- Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
More Short Idioms
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Sources
| 1. | ↲ | Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010. |
| 2. | ↲ | Spears, Richard A. McGraw-Hill’s American Idioms Dictionary. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2008. |