It's better to arrive late then to never come or do something.
Etymology:
- From classic literature. Attributed to Geoffrey Chaucer, first seen in 1386 in The Yeoman's Tale, and in turn found in The Canterbury Tales: “For better than never is late; never to succeed would be too long a period.”
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“
I came to work and my boss was angry, but it's better late than never.
Submitted on November 05, 2020
Modified by TriplePurple on April 01, 2024
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Nearby phrases
Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to better late than never
Better Safe than Sorrybetter angelsbetter late than pregnantbetter the devil you know than the one …better than a poke in the eye with a ru…always late and a penny shortbetter dead than RedBark is Worse than Your Biteas of latebetter than sexbetter part ofBetter Halfbetter the devil you know than the devi…always a bridesmaid, never a bride
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"better late than never." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/better-late-than-never_62462>.
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