六むい日かの菖蒲あやめ

expression, noun

too late to be useful; a day late and a dollar short

Idiomatic expression referring to something that arrives or is done after the opportunity has passed, like an iris blooming one day after the Boy's Day festival when it is no longer needed.

See also: 端午の節句

• 彼かれの助じょ言げんは六むい日かの菖蒲あやめだった。

  His advice came too late to be of any use.

• 今いまさらそんなことを言いわれても六むい日かの菖蒲あやめだよ。

  Telling me that now is a day late and a dollar short.