overdue to leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overdue to leave" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone or something is past the expected time to depart or exit. Example: "The train is overdue to leave the station, causing delays for all passengers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I think he was long overdue to leave," said Ken Ersaud, of Florham Park, N.J., as he lathered ketchup on a fried chicken leg.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Most of them put out statements declaring his decision to leave long overdue.

Los Angeles Times

The real climax in Ari's story line was his long overdue reckoning with Lloyd, who arrived midserenade to beg Ari not to leave, proclaiming that Ari is his inspiration and that he aspires to be just like him.

The New York Times - Arts

The spokesman said the termination had left the authority "well overdue" to replace vital communications equipment.

BBC

I'm way overdue to update my dusty blogroll.

The New York Times

"We're long overdue to have it in the Olympics.

The New York Times - Sports

We're overdue to abolish the electoral college.

The Washington Post

Such an analysis is well overdue to prevent oil spills.

Science Magazine

It was almost overdue to be honest," says Sherwood.

BBC

A worthy project that's overdue, to be sure.

TechCrunch

It's long overdue to have competition like Fox News".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overdue to leave" to express a sense of lateness or delay in someone's departure, implying that their leaving should have happened sooner. It carries a tone of expectation or mild criticism regarding the timing.

Common error

Avoid using "overdue to leave" in contexts where you simply mean 'due to leave' at a future time. "Overdue" specifically implies lateness. Ensure the context clearly indicates that the departure was expected earlier.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overdue to leave" functions as an adjectival modifier describing a situation or action that should have commenced or concluded earlier. It suggests a sense of expectation or necessity related to a departure that has not yet occurred. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "overdue to leave" is a grammatically correct expression used to indicate that a departure should have occurred earlier. As verified by Ludwig, it suggests a sense of delay or expectation regarding someone's exit. While relatively rare in overall usage, it frequently appears in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context appropriately reflects that the departure was expected at a prior time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

past time to depart

Changes the wording to emphasize the passing of time, maintaining the core meaning.

should have already left

Rephrases the idea into a past action that ought to have been completed.

time for departure has passed

Focuses on the elapsed time and the missed opportunity for leaving.

departure was long awaited

Shifts the focus to the anticipation of someone's leaving rather than the lateness of the event.

well past the exit time

Emphasizes the time beyond which leaving should have occurred.

high time for departure

Indicates that the moment for leaving is not just overdue, but critically so.

exit long anticipated

Similar to 'departure was long awaited' but with a stronger sense of anticipation.

departure is behind schedule

Uses more formal language to indicate a delay in leaving.

supposed to have left already

Expresses the original sentiment as an expectation that has not been met.

at long last departing

Expresses a sense of relief that a departure, long awaited, is finally happening.

FAQs

What does "overdue to leave" imply about a situation?

It suggests that a departure or exit should have happened earlier, implying a delay or that someone has stayed longer than expected or desired.

How can I use "overdue to leave" in a sentence?

For example, "Given the circumstances, he was "long overdue to leave" the company."

What's a less formal way to say "overdue to leave"?

Informally, you could say someone "should've left ages ago" or that "it was time for them to go a while back".

Is there a more formal alternative to "overdue to leave"?

A more formal alternative might be "departure was excessively delayed" or "the scheduled departure time has long passed".