miss the plane

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "miss the plane" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone did not arrive at the airport on time and as a result, they were unable to board their flight. Example: "I missed the plane because of heavy traffic on the way to the airport."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Moral: Don't miss the plane.

The Times

This delay would surely make his wife miss the plane.

The New Yorker

Either it will intersect the plane or it will miss the plane and keep travelling into wide-open space.

The Guardian - Books

"I miss the plane; that's about it," Mr. Cohen told Mr. Robinson, who responded, "When people ask me what I miss about big companies, it's the plane".

The New York Times

Please step on it, otherwise we're going to miss the plane.

BBC

However, not only did he miss the plane but he was then told he could be in a play-off.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"To be honest, I miss the planes.

The Guardian

The two small, shoulder-fired missiles barely missed the plane.

The New York Times

Half the time the Italians would call to say they missed the plane.

The New York Times

I fell asleep in a chair by the gate and missed the plane.

The New York Times

"We missed the plane back every night for a week," he said, approvingly.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "miss the plane", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for missing it to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify if it was due to traffic, oversleeping, or other circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "miss the plane" when the flight itself is delayed or cancelled. "Miss the plane" implies personal responsibility, whereas flight issues are the airline's responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "miss the plane" functions as a common idiom to describe the situation where someone is late and unable to board their scheduled flight. Ludwig examples show it used in various contexts, from personal anecdotes to news reports.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "miss the plane" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of arriving too late to board a scheduled flight. As Ludwig AI points out, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. To ensure clarity, it is recommended to provide context regarding the reason for missing the flight. While alternatives like "be late for the flight" exist, "miss the plane" remains a straightforward and easily understood way to convey this specific travel mishap.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be late for the flight

Focuses on being late as the cause of not boarding.

fail to catch the flight

Emphasizes the failure to board the plane in time.

not make the flight

A more concise way of saying someone didn't get on the plane.

be unable to board the plane

Highlights the inability to get on the aircraft.

be stranded due to a missed flight

Focuses on the consequence of not catching the plane: being stuck.

suffer a flight delay

Shifts focus to the flight being delayed as the issue instead of the person being late.

be delayed and miss the flight

Specifies that a delay caused missing the plane.

be denied boarding

Highlights the reason of not being able to board on the plane.

find oneself unable to fly

Focuses on the inability to fly as a result of an event.

get to the gate after closing

Explains the specific reason for not being able to board: arriving late at the gate.

FAQs

What does it mean to "miss the plane"?

To "miss the plane" means that you arrived too late to board your scheduled flight, preventing you from traveling as planned.

What are some common reasons why people "miss the plane"?

Common reasons include traffic delays, oversleeping, long security lines at the airport, and miscalculating travel time to the airport.

Is it better to say "miss the plane" or "miss the flight"?

Both "miss the plane" and "miss the flight" are acceptable. "Miss the flight" is slightly more general, while "miss the plane" is more specific to the physical aircraft.

What should I do if I "miss the plane"?

Contact the airline immediately to rebook your flight. You may also explore alternative transportation options if available, like taking "another flight" or bus.