a day after the fair

a day aft·er the fair
UK/ə ˈdeɪ ˌɑːftə ðə ˈfɛə/US/ə ˈdeɪ ˌæftɚ ðə ˈfɛɚ/

adverb

Too late.

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Meanings

adverba day after the fair (not comparable)
  1. not comparableToo late.

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

    1605, [Thomas Heywood], If You Know Not Me, You Know No Bodie: Or, The Troubles of Queene Elizabeth, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot] for Nathaniel Butter, →OCLC, signatures G3, recto – G3, verso
    1 more example

    '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.'

    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

Origin

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.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech s křížkem po funuse
  • s křížkem po funuseTranslations
Finnish kun maito on jo kaatunut
  • kun maito on jo kaatunutTranslations
French après la bataille
  • après la batailleTranslations
Latin post festum
  • post festumTranslations
Polish po herbacie, po ptokach
  • po herbacieTranslations
  • po ptokachTranslations
  • po zawodachTranslations

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with a day after the fair

aretherewherecarecompareairsharehairmaryrepairfairbearwearrarelayerpairawareprepareprayermayorterrorPierresparebare
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

a day after the fair. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20day%20after%20the%20fair

MLA

“a day after the fair.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20day%20after%20the%20fair. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “a day after the fair,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/a%20day%20after%20the%20fair.

Source: a day after the fair on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.