Better late than never meaning: 1. Said when you think that it is better for someone or something to be late than never to arrive. Shady#$%'s explanation is right on, but for the sake of completeness, here's the link for the next quest in chain: 'Better Late Than Never'. By the way, when I opened the package, the message showed up that I completed the quest. Robyn Jacobs has developed a habit for being fashionably late, but gets a taste of what life would be like if her tardiness turned into an epidemic. Theme: Lateness. Adventures in Odyssey® 119: Better Late than Never Download.
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better late than never
The delayed occurrence or achievement of something that one desires is better than it not happening at all. This set phrase is often used to acknowledge (perhaps begrudgingly) that something has finally occurred. After two weeks, I finally got a return phone call from that company. Better late than never, I guess.I'm sorry my gift came late, but better late than never, right?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Better late than never.
Prov. Cliché Doing something late is better than not doing it. I'm sorry I'm late to the party. Better late than never, right?Jill: Lisa's birthday was two weeks ago. Should I send her a card now? Jane: Better late than never.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
better late than never
Being tardy is better than not at all, as in We've been waiting for you for an hour-but better late than never. This phrase, first recorded about 1200, appears in several early English proverb collections, often with the added but better never late. Today it is often used in exasperation over a delay, as in the example.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
better late than never
People say better late than never to mean that it is better for something to happen later than planned or wanted than not to happen at all. I didn't fall in love until I was 50, but better late than never!Perhaps I should have started the project years ago, I said to myself, but maybe it is better late than never. Note: This expression is often used to show that you think that something should have been done sooner.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
better late than never
119: Better Late Than Never Tv
it's preferable for something to happen or be done belatedly than not at all.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
ˌbetter ˌlate than ˈnever
(sayingBetter Late Than Never Meaning
) it is better to arrive, do something, etc. late than not to arrive, do something, etc. at all: You were supposed to be here an hour ago, still better late than never, I suppose!Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
better late than never
A time-honored rationalization for tardiness. It can be traced to Greek and Latin writers, including the historian Livy, and appears in several early English proverb collections. The full proverb is sometimes stated, “Better late than never, but better never late.” There are versions in numerous other languages as well.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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