To miss the boat

(Finn is picking up Feifei to go to his posh uncle's party)

Finn:	Come on, Feifei! We are going to be late—this party is my big chance!
Feifei:	I'm almost ready, Finn! Hi, I'm Feifei. Finn has invited me to his posh uncle's party. He knows lots of celebrities!
Finn:	Come on! And lots of musicians ... I'm a bit of a rocker myself, and this might just be my chance to meet someone famous ... Come on!
Feifei:	Coming!
Finn:	Maybe join the band ... live the rock star life ... oh, this is my one big chance! Come on or I'll miss the boat!
Feifei:	Boat?! Why didn't you say it before?
	(Hurried steps, rummaging in a wardrobe and a lifejacket inflating)
Feifei:	Here I am.
Finn:	A lifejacket!?
Feifei:	Of course! We are going on a boat! I am afraid of water—I can't swim!
Finn:	Feifei, there's no real boat! In English, when we use the expression 'to miss the boat' we mean that we are too late to take advantage of a good opportunity.
Feifei:	No boat at all?
Finn:	Not even a canoe. Listen to these examples.
	If I hadn't bought a new flat last year I would have missed the boat. Properties are more expensive now.
	I should have travelled the world when I was young. Now I have a family to take care of. I might have missed the boat.
Feifei:	Oh, OK, so 'to miss the boat' is to miss an opportunity by being late. It makes sense.
Finn:	Yes, but we're not going to make it on time now, unless ... we take my uncle's helicopter! It's parked in a field nearby. Come on!
Feifei:	Helicopter! Wait a minute, Finn. (Hurried steps, rummaging in the wardrobe again)
Feifei:	Now I am really ready.
Finn:	Feifei, is it what I think it is? A parachute?!
Feifei:	Well of course it is! I can't swim and I can't fly either. And I'm afraid of heights!
Finn:	OK, don't you worry. Let's just go to the party. We don't want to miss the boat, do we?
Feifei:	We don't want to miss the boat or the helicopter. Bye.
Finn:	Bye. (Helicopter taking off)