Slip Through One’s Fingers, To Let 👐
Definition:
“Slip through one’s fingers, to let” means to fail to seize an opportunity. Think of trying to hold onto a bar of soap in the shower—one moment it’s in your grasp, and the next it’s on the floor. This metaphor has been sliding around throughout the ages, with early literary appearances, such as Beaumont and Fletcher’s The Prophetess (1622) capturing its essence: “Hold her fast, She’ll slip thorow your fingers like an Eel else.”
Synonyms:
- Miss the boat
- Pass up
- Miss out on
- Blow it
Antonyms:
- Seize the day (Carpe Diem)
- Take advantage
- Jump at the chance
- Grasp firmly
Humor-filled Quotes:
- “Opportunities are like ice cream under the scorching sun—they melt if you don’t lick ‘em.”
- “Grab life by the handlebars before your bike rides off without you.”
Related Terms:
- “Catch lightning in a bottle”: Achieve something extremely difficult.
- “Carpe Diem”: Latin for “Seize the day”; make the most of the present.
- “Strike while the iron is hot”: Take action at the most opportune moment.
Proverbs:
- “Opportunity knocks but once.”
- “Lost time is never found again.” – Benjamin Franklin
Literary Suggestions:
- Book: “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson – A modern-day fable on adaptation and seizing opportunities.
- Poem: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost – Pondering missed opportunities and choices in life.
- Movie: “Dead Poets Society” – Highlighting the importance of seizing the day.
### Which of these phrases also means missing an opportunity?
- [x] Miss the boat
- [ ] Jump at the chance
- [ ] Seize the day
- [ ] Hit the jackpot
> **Explanation:** "Miss the boat" is a phrase that similarly means missing or failing to take advantage of an opportunity.
### True or False: "Carpe Diem" means to let something slip through your fingers.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Carpe Diem" actually means "Seize the day," which is the opposite of letting something slip through your fingers.
### Complete the phrase: "___ while the iron is hot."
- [ ] Snooze
- [ ] Eat
- [x] Strike
- [ ] Relax
> **Explanation:** The correct phrase is "Strike while the iron is hot," meaning to take action at the most opportune moment to avoid missed chances.
### Which proverb suggests that missed time and opportunities cannot be recovered?
- [x] Lost time is never found again.
- [ ] Early bird catches the worm.
- [ ] Better late than never.
- [ ] No pain, no gain.
> **Explanation:** "Lost time is never found again" is the correct proverb, implying that once an opportunity is missed, it's often gone for good.
Remember, every moment counts—so grab it before it slips between the cracks of missed opportunities. Until next time, let’s not let life slip through our fingers! 🌟
Inspirational Note: Seize the moment, my friend, for tomorrow is born from the actions you take today. – Eliza Wordsworth
