miss out

You usually use it with the word on. You miss out on a party, a sale, or a promotion. You can also use it alone at the end of a sentence. If a friend asks if you are coming to the concert, you might say, "I don't want to miss out!" It is very flexible. You can use it in the past tense as missed out or the continuous form missing out.

Use it when something exciting is happening. It is perfect for social invitations. Use it when talking about limited-time offers at shops. It works well when discussing life opportunities like travel or education. If your friends are going to a midnight movie, tell them you don't want to miss out on the fun. It shows you value the experience.

Do not use it for physical objects you simply lost. If you lost your keys, you didn't miss out on them. Do not use it for missing a bus or a flight. For transportation, just use the verb miss. Miss out implies a lost benefit or enjoyment, not just a logistical error. Also, avoid it in very tragic situations. You wouldn't say you missed out on a funeral; that sounds a bit too casual.

This phrase is the parent of the modern term FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out). In Western culture, there is a high value placed on "living life to the fullest." People hate the idea that a great story is happening without them. It is often used in advertising to make you buy things quickly. "Don't miss out!" is a classic marketing trick to create urgency.

The most famous variation is definitely FOMO. You might also hear people say they missed the boat, which is a bit more idiomatic. In some cases, people say miss out on the action. This specifically refers to being part of a busy or exciting event. It is a very common part of daily English conversation.