phrase origin

accent, welcome to A2K. If that phrase is racial in origin, it's news to me. I think it just refers to having been late, and missed one's ride. Many folks were thankful that they missed the ship, especially in the case of The RMS Titanic.

Later, I think the phrase may have come to mean, someone who missed the point or was too late to become part of a good thing.

I suppose that a racial origin may have something to do with slave ships?

(Pure guesswork on my part, btw).

I'm curious to see if anyone can give a definative answer.

Educated guess--but only a guess.

The original boat may have been a ferry boat which would leave at regular intervals and stop running for the night.

Or "missed the boat" could simply refer to someone who ignored the tyranny of the tides and arrived at the dock too late to board.

Interesting site.

http://www.iasbs.ac.ir/students/smvaez/english2.htm

I had a friend who used to say, "missed the ark -- and swam over," meaning any old, bedraggled thing that looked like it didn't get on Noah's ark and had to fend for itself during the Flood. I never thought of it as racist.

'missed the boat' does indeed mean you missed your chance at something.

I don't think it is racial. Perhaps they mean "off the boat"?

"Off the boat" when referring to someone usually refers to that person being an immigrant who is not yet comfortable in their new location.

Or perhaps not yet adapted rather than not yet comfortable.

Or perhaps both adapted and comfortable but not yet accepted by the particular interlocutor.