後(あと)の祭(まつ)り

あとのまつり

expression

too late; after the fact

1. too late; it's all over; locking the stable door after the horse has bolted

A situation where regret or action comes too late to change anything. Literally "the day after the festival".

今(いま)さら後悔(こうかい)しても後(あと)の祭(まつ)りだ。

There's no use regretting it now; it's too late.

気(き)づいたときには後(あと)の祭(まつ)りだった。

By the time I noticed, it was already too late.

I noticed the mistake in the documents the day after the deadline, but by then it was too late.

Said after the chance has passed, usually with いまさら or もう: もう後(あと)の祭(まつ)りだ. It often comes after 〜ても, "even if you ~ now, it's too late".

Usually explained as the floats and decorations that turn up after the festival is over and are no longer of any use.

Related Words

general

Added 2026.10.5 4:20 · Revised 2026.10.5 4:22

31500/31592_atonomatsuri