十とお日かの菊きく

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 critical moment, rendering it useless. Literally, a chrysanthemum blooming on the 10th, one day after the Chrysanthemum Festival (重陽の節句) on the 9th day of the 9th month.

See also: 重陽

• 今いまさら助たすけに来きても十とお日かの菊きくだ。

  Coming to help now is too late to be of any use.

• そのアドバイスは十とお日かの菊きくで、もう決けつ断だんした後あとだった。

  That advice came a day late and a dollar short; I had already made my decision.