miss opportunity

USAGE SUMMARY

"miss opportunity" is a correct expression in written English.
It is usually used to describe a situation in which someone has failed to take advantage of an opportunity that was available to them. For example, "Fred missed the opportunity to get a job in finance, despite having the qualifications and experience necessary for the role."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Companies miss opportunity after opportunity to make customers loyal".

The Economist

Ultimately, you'll never be able to capitalize on your "can't miss" opportunity.

Huffington Post

Sanders Campaign Manager Jeff Weaver defended the decision to make the Vatican trip so close to the pivotal primary, telling Bloomberg that the invitation is a "can't miss opportunity," and "some things are more important than politics".

Vice

I was, by the way, the least pessimistic person in the room where we watched the debate, a room full of blue-state pinkos, and our hearts had collectively sunk as we watched Obama miss opportunity after opportunity to score a knockout punch -- as the men in the room tended to put it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Iran can miss opportunities too.

The Economist

He doesn't usually miss opportunities.

The New York Times

What a missed opportunity.

The New York Times

Big, big missed opportunity.

The New York Times

Another missed opportunity.

The New York Times

Such a missed opportunity.

The New York Times - Magazine

That is a missed opportunity.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "miss opportunity" when you want to emphasize that a specific chance was not taken, especially when it could have led to a positive outcome. For example, "The company missed the opportunity to expand into new markets last year".

Common error

Avoid using "miss opportunity" and "lost opportunity" interchangeably. "Miss opportunity" focuses on the failure to act, whereas "lost opportunity" suggests the chance is gone and cannot be recovered. Using them incorrectly can alter the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "miss opportunity" functions primarily as a noun phrase that describes a situation where a chance or favorable circumstance is not taken advantage of. It often serves as a subject or object in a sentence, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "miss opportunity" describes the failure to capitalize on a chance. According to Ludwig, the expression is grammatically sound, but relatively rare. It most commonly appears in News & Media. While "miss opportunity" and "missed opportunity" are often used interchangeably, it's important to consider the context for best accuracy. "Miss opportunity" highlights the act of failing to grasp a moment, whereas "lost opportunity" suggests the chance has disappeared. This analysis, coupled with an understanding of similar phrases, aids in conveying precise meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lose a chance

Changes the verb to 'lose' while retaining the core meaning of not being able to take advantage of something.

squander an opportunity

Implies that the opportunity was wasted carelessly.

pass up a chance

Suggests a deliberate but perhaps unwise decision to not pursue something.

neglect an occasion

Shifts the focus to overlooking or ignoring a specific instance or event.

fail to capitalize

Highlights the failure to use something to one's advantage.

let slip an opening

Emphasizes the easiness with which the chance disappeared.

overlook a prospect

Focuses on not noticing a potential positive outcome.

drop the ball

An idiomatic expression implying mishandling of a situation.

fall short of taking advantage

Highlights the inability to use an advantage.

be remiss in securing a chance

Suggests a failure to be diligent in obtaining a desired outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "miss opportunity" in a sentence?

You can use "miss opportunity" to describe a situation where someone fails to take advantage of a beneficial chance. For example, "The startup "missed the opportunity" to secure funding due to poor planning."

What is a synonym for "miss opportunity"?

A synonym for "miss opportunity" is "lose a chance", which also conveys the idea of failing to capitalize on a favorable situation.

Is it correct to say "missed opportunity" instead of "miss opportunity"?

Yes, "missed opportunity" is the more common and grammatically standard phrasing. "Miss opportunity" is acceptable but less frequent. However, it's essential to check context because both can be appropriate in specific situations.

What's the difference between "miss opportunity" and "lose opportunity"?

"Miss opportunity" emphasizes the failure to grasp a chance, while "lose opportunity" suggests the chance is now unavailable. The nuance lies in whether the focus is on inaction or the opportunity's disappearance.