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/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
(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)

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

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