有些boat专门用做渡船(ferry),有比较固定的运行时间,没赶上的话会很耽误事情,因此miss the boat可以引申为“坐失良机”。Peter missed the boat when he decided not to buy the house.彼得决定不买那套房子,其实他正是在坐失良机。老板要给员工降薪水,员工必须抛开平时自己之间的矛盾,联合起来与之谈判。这在汉语中叫“同舟共济”,英语中相应的说法是in the same boat(言外之意是,必须联合起来采取行动)。We are in the same boat and must unite to have a formal talk with the boss.我们应该同舟共济,联合起来和老板进行正式谈判。
大一点儿的船叫做ship,这种船通常在大河或海洋上航行。His ship is in danger of sink-ing on the sea.他的船有在海上沉没的危险。