missing

be missing some of (one's) buttons

To be mentally deficient, incompetent, or deranged; to be of unsound mind. My poor grandmother is missing some of her buttons after her stroke. I've been so sleep deprived lately that it feels like I'm missing some of my buttons!
See also: button, missing, of

be missing some of (one's) marbles

To be mentally deficient, incompetent, or deranged; to be of unsound mind. My poor grandmother is missing some of her marbles after her stroke. I've been so sleep deprived lately that it feels like I'm missing some of my marbles!
See also: marble, missing, of

fear of missing out

slang The worry that one may miss an enjoyable activity, especially due to the fact that one often sees others documenting such activities on social media. Often abbreviated as "FOMO." Fear of missing out convinced me to go to that crazy outdoor festival with my friends.
See also: fear, missing, of, out

go missing

To disappear. My diamond earrings have gone missing, and I want the entire staff to be interrogated! A: "How did the dog go missing?" B: "I don't know, he must have wiggled under the fence in the back yard."
See also: go, missing

joy of missing out

The enjoyment of time spent alone, rather than the feeling of compulsively needing to be with one's friends or know what they are doing. The opposite of "fear of missing out" (commonly abbreviated "FOMO"). I rarely go out on the weekends anymore. I've totally embraced the joy of missing out, it seems!
See also: joy, missing, of, out

miss (something) by a mile

To fail or fall short (of something) by a very wide margin. I thought she would appreciate such a practical present for her birthday, but it looks like I missed by a mile. He kept boasting about how good he is at horseshoes, but he missed by a mile every time he went up to throw.
See also: by, mile, miss

miss a trick

To not take advantage of an opportunity or situation to gain some benefit for oneself. Almost always used in the negative to convey the opposite, meaning that one is opportunistic. Did you really try to make a quick buck during the hurricane? You never miss a trick, do you? Even the best salesmen miss a trick once in a while. You'll get the next one.
See also: miss, trick

miss fire

1. obsolete Of a firearm, to fail to fire a shot. (Replaced in modern English by the word "misfire.") He had the better aim of the two, but his pistol missed fire, and he was killed in the duel.
2. obsolete By extension, to fail to do as expected or intended; to not achieve the intended or anticipated result. (Replaced in modern English by the word "misfire.") It is now clear that the government's social welfare experiment has greatly miss fired.
See also: fire, miss

miss out

To lose the chance or opportunity to do or experience something. Because I was so sick last week, I missed out on the chance to see my sister while she was in town. If you don't call the recruiter back right away, you're going to miss out.
See also: miss, out

miss out on (something)

To lose the chance or opportunity to do or experience something. Because I was so sick last week, I missed out on the chance to see my sister while she was in town. If you don't call the recruiter back right away, you're going to miss out on the opportunity.
See also: miss, on, out

miss the boat

1. To lose the chance or opportunity to do something. If you don't call the recruiter back right away, you're going to miss the boat.
2. To make a mistake, often due to misunderstanding something. Boy, he really missed the boat with that tone-deaf statement.
See also: boat, miss

miss the cushion

To fail in some way. The phrase is similar in meaning and use to "miss the mark." I felt confident going into the interview, but I think I really missed the cushion, judging by the recruiter's facial expressions.
See also: cushion, miss

miss the cut

In golf, to fail to match or better the score necessary to remain in the final two rounds of a four-round tournament, thus resulting in elimination. Despite a strong start in the tournament, Ms. Ryder fell behind in the last nine holes and ended up missing the cut.
See also: cut, miss

miss the mark

To be slightly or somewhat mistaken, incorrect, or inaccurate. I believe your statements about the city's homelessness problem have rather missed the mark. The film tries to be a commentary on the middle class in this country, but it ends up missing the mark.
See also: mark, miss

miss the point

To misunderstand the essence or crux of something. That's not what I meant at all—you missed the point of everything I just said.
See also: miss, point

missing link

1. A hypothetical extinct animal that is believed to be the evolutionary connection between man and ape. Scientists will never fully understand the evolution of man until they find the missing link.
2. Something that is significantly, noticeably absent, often because its presence would be helpful or beneficial. Participation is the missing link in your grade, so I would suggest speaking up in class going forward. I think that chlorine is the missing link in this experiment.
See also: link, missing

never miss a trick

To always take advantage of every opportunity or situation to gain some benefit for oneself. Did you really try to make a quick buck during the hurricane? You never miss a trick, do you? When you're hiring a PR consultant, you want someone who'll never miss a trick.
See also: miss, never, trick

not know what (one is) missing

To fail to realize how great something is because one refuses to try or participate in it. This movie is really interesting—you kids don't know what you're missing! A: "I've always been too nervous to try skydiving." B: "You don't know what you're missing. It's the thrill of a lifetime!"
See also: know, missing, not, what

without missing a beat

Without slowing down, pausing, or being distracted, especially in spite of a potential disruption. Even when the hecklers started singing obnoxiously, the speaker continued without missing a beat. The teacher asked us how photosynthesis begins, and, without missing a beat, John said, "With a 'P.'"
See also: beat, missing, without
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

miss a trick

Fig. to miss an opportunity or chance. (*Typically with the negative.) She hardly ever misses a trick. Mr. Big never misses a trick. How did a smart guy like you miss a trick like that?
See also: miss, trick

miss out (on something)

 and lose out (on something)
to fail to participate in something; to fail to take part in something. I'm sorry I missed out on the ice cream. I lost out on getting in the class photo because I was sick that day.
See also: miss, out

miss the boat

 
1. Lit. to miss out (on something); to be ignorant (of something). Pay attention, John, or you'll miss the boat and not learn algebra. Tom really missed the boat when it came to making friends.
2. Fig. to have made an error; to be wrong. If you think you can do that, you have just missed the boat. The guy's missed the boat. He's a lunkhead.
See also: boat, miss

miss the point

to fail to understand the important part of something. I'm afraid you missed the point. Let me explain it again. You keep explaining, and I keep missing the point.
See also: miss, point
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

have all one's buttons

Also, have all one's marbles. Be completely sane and rational. For example, Grandma may be in a wheelchair, but she still has all her buttons, or I'm not sure he has all his marbles. These slangy expressions date from the mid-1800s, as do the antonyms lose or be missing some of one's buttons or marbles , meaning "become (or be) mentally deficient."
See also: all, button, have

miss fire

Fail to achieve the anticipated result, as in Recycling cardboard seemed like a good idea but it missed fire. First recorded in 1727, this phrase originally described a firearm failing to go off and has been used figuratively since the mid-1800s.
See also: fire, miss

miss the boat

1. Fail to take advantage of an opportunity, as in Jean missed the boat on that club membership. This expression, which alludes to not being in time to catch a boat, has been applied more widely since the 1920s.
2. Fail to understand something, as in I'm afraid our legislator missed the boat on that amendment to the bill. [Mid-1900s] Also see miss the point.
See also: boat, miss

miss the point

Overlook or fail to understand the essential or important part of something, as in Chris missed the point of Gwen's complaint, thinking she was opposed to the date of the next meeting . This expression employs point in the sense of "the salient portion," a usage dating from the late 1300s.
See also: miss, point
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

without missing a beat

or

not missing a beat

If someone says or does something without missing a beat, they continue to speak or do something without pausing. `Are you jealous?' — `Only when I'm not in control,' he says, without missing a beat.
See also: beat, missing, without

miss the boat

COMMON If you miss the boat, you fail to act in time to take advantage of an opportunity. The price of gold rose so quickly that many investors simply missed the boat. When I was still unmarried at 30, my mother and grandmother both worried that I'd missed the boat. Note: You can put an adjective before boat to say what kind of opportunity is being missed. Those who bought in May missed the investment boat. Note: People sometimes say miss the bus with the same meaning. Orders received by December 10 will be sent in time for Christmas. Too bad if you missed the bus.
See also: boat, miss
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

miss the boat (or bus)

be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity. informal
1987 Kathy Lette Girls' Night Out He'll never get divorced and marry her. She'll miss the boat.
See also: boat, miss
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

not know what you’re ˈmissing

not realize how good, amusing, interesting, etc. something is because you have never tried it: ‘I’m not really interested in snowboarding.’ ‘Oh, you should give it a try. You don’t know what you’re missing.’
See also: know, missing, not, what

ˌmiss the ˈboat

(informal) lose the opportunity to do or get something because you do not act quickly enough: I’m afraid we’ve missed the boat — all the tickets for Saturday’s performance have been sold.
See also: boat, miss
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

miss out

v.
To be unable or fail to participate in something: I missed out on last month's concert because I was out of town. There's a lot going on at the fair, so set aside the whole day or you'll miss out!
See also: miss, out
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

miss the boat

tv. to have made an error; to be wrong. If you think you can do that, you have just missed the boat.
See also: boat, miss
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

miss fire

1. To fail to discharge. Used of a firearm.
2. To fail to achieve the anticipated result.
See also: fire, miss

miss the boat

Informal
1. To fail to avail oneself of an opportunity.
2. To fail to understand.
See also: boat, miss
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • be missing some of (one's) buttons
  • be missing some of (one's) marbles
  • lose (one's) buttons
  • lose one's buttons
  • lose one's marbles
  • lose your marbles
  • lose (one's) marbles
  • lose all one’s marbles
  • lose marbles
  • lose one’s marbles
References in periodicals archive
Khaldoun Sinno, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to BIH, called for full implementation of the Law on Missing Persons, noting that, 'The Fund for Families of the Missing must be established, and this is a duty for all levels of administration.'
Families of the Missing Deserve Concrete Action
Age at disappearance: 17 Missing Since: 01-Jun-2017 Missing from: Hounslow, Middlesex Reference No: 17-004549
Children Missing
PARVIN SINGH Missing People Ref 11-001070 Went missing on March 24, 2011, aged 53, from Cardiff.
AS FAR BACK AS 1979
Total: Destroyed, 216, damaged, 57, pilots killed, 193, missing, 302, wounded, 69.
Grim toll mounts
And in Cleveland during the same period, 4,664 people went missing. Six of them are still unaccounted for.
Cash lifeline for missing people charity
In April remains believed to be missing Americans from World War 11 and [lie Vietnam War were returned from Papua New Guinea and Laos.
The search for America's missing
It is shocking to think that more than 50 native women disappeared in Vancouver, but we also know there are more than 110 missing aboriginal women in Alberta.
Campaign honours missing native women
There are several reasons for being concerned about missing data.
Methodological techniques for dealing with missing data
Harte, a Mason of Milton, Massachusetts, dentist, and current Director of CHIP, connected The Missing Link to the program.
The missing link
Short-term, nonfamily incidents where abductors release or return children, often before anyone knows they are missing, constitute another type of child abduction.
Investigating Potential Child Abduction Cases
The history of missing children as a public issue is marked by inflated figures, often promulgated by organizations with an interest in scaring the public.
Suffer the missing children? Taxpayer dollars continue to disappear while children don't
The absence of Ajax's "pig meat" utterance, yet its evocation through supplemental conceit, reveals its simultaneous properties as both missed yet not missing from the narrative.
Missing peace in Toni Morrison's 'Sula' and 'Beloved.' (female Afro-American fiction writer)
Metropolitan Policeis one of 27 forces across the UK to work with Missing People to help find and support vulnerable children and adults.
Missing People charity deals with alarming 115% rise in reports nationally with more than 50,000 missing in London in 2015-16; The charity's helpline dealt with a total of 52,834 concerned calls about missing children and adults in the capital
EMRE: HAMSTRING Missing Aug 14-28, then back for one game then missing Aug 28-Oct 15.
Football: SOUNESS'S INJURY WOES THIS SEASON.. AND LAST
APART from the hundreds of Britons feared dead, the toll spread far and wide, including: US: 180 dead, 5,000 missing. Israel: 10 dead, 140 missing.
APOCALYPSE AMERICA : Toll around world