a day after the fair

English

WOTD – 15 February 2023

Etymology

The term refers to someone who has missed a fair (“community gathering to celebrate and exhibit local achievements; event for public entertainment and trade, etc.”) by coming to visit it a day late.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ə ˈdeɪ ˌɑːftə ðə ˈfɛə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ə ˈdeɪ ˌæftɚ ðə ˈfɛɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: a day aft‧er the fair

Adverb

a day after the fair (not comparable)

1. Too late.
   • 1605, [Thomas Heywood], If You Know Not Me, You Know No Bodie: Or, The Troubles of Queene Elizabeth, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot] for Nathaniel Butter, published 1606, →OCLC, signature F3, recto:

     You are in your loue as free as in your care, / You're come euen iuſt, a day after the fayre.

   • 1900, Fergus Hume, “Mr Baltic on the Trail”, in Bishop Pendle: Or, The Bishop’s Secret, Chicago, Ill., New York, N.Y.: Rand, McNally & Company, →OCLC, page 249:

     'Captain Pendle is coming to Beorminster this week, Miss Whichello.' / 'Oh,' said the little old lady, with a satirical smile, 'you are a day after the fair, Mr Cargrim. I heard that news this morning.' / 'Indeed! But the bishop only sent for Captain Pendle yesterday.' / 'Quite so; and Miss Arden received a telegram from Captain Pendle this morning.'

Translations

Translations

• Czech: s křížkem po funuse (cs)
• Finnish: kun maito on jo kaatunut
• French: après la bataille
• Latin: post festum
• Polish: po herbacie (pl), po ptokach (pl), po zawodach (pl)

See also

• a day late and a dollar short
• close the stable door after the horse has bolted
• late in the day

Further reading

• “(to come) a day after the fair, phrase” under “fair, n.²”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2022.