Missing the boat is an idiom that means to miss out on an opportunity. It can be used literally, such as when someone misses a boat they were supposed to board, or figuratively, such as when someone fails to take advantage of an opportunity. The crossword solutions for this term are LATE (4 letters) and ASHORE (6 letters). LATE implies that someone was not on time and missed their chance, while ASHORE suggests that someone was left behind on land and did not make it onto the boat.