You Snooze, You Lose

Meaning of Idiom “You Snooze, You Lose”

You snooze, you lose is said to mean that if you are not paying attention you may miss opportunities and someone else will take them.

Usage Notes

This may be said as a joke or meant as cruel mockery.

 

Examples Of Use

“I didn’t know it was free beer night!” said Sal. “You snooze, you lose,” said Hank.

“Why should I share my candy with you? Uncle Randy brought it and you didn’t come out of your room. You snooze, you lose!”

“These days you have to take advantage of any deal you can find. If you snooze, you lose.”

Origin

To snooze, in this idiom, alludes to light sleep or a nap, implying that one is sleeping through opportunities by not paying attention. The expression has been used since at least the 1980s.