BBC Learning English: The English We Speak: Passing ships

I'm very well, thank you, Georgie. I haven't seen you much lately. What's going on?

I think our schedules are quite different at the moment.

I'm at my desk. Whenever I'm at my desk, you seem to be in meetings, and then when you're back at your desk, I'm doing something else, somewhere else in the office building.

Whenever I'm at my desk, you seem to be in meetings, and then when you're back at your desk, I'm doing something else, somewhere else in the office building.

We're like passing ships. We're passing ships.

Let's actually imagine that. Two ships at night. They briefly see each other in the darkness, and then they continue in different directions.

Let's actually imagine that. Two ships at night. They briefly see each other in the darkness, and then they continue in different directions.

Let's actually imagine that. Two ships at night. They briefly see each other in the darkness, and then they continue in different directions.

Let's actually imagine that. Two ships at night. They briefly see each other in the darkness, and then they continue in different directions.

The encounter is brief and the people on board the ships probably don't have time to speak to each other.

The encounter is brief and the people on board the ships probably don't have time to speak to each other.

So recently, our schedules are different so we're not seeing each other very much, and when we do, the interaction is very short. We're like passing ships.

Hopefully our schedules line up a bit soon so we can catch up!

Hopefully our schedules line up a bit soon so we can catch up!

'Passing ships' is often used to talk about busy adult life when two people are finding it hard to meet.

I really need to meet up properly with my neighbour, and like, have dinner. We talk a lot over the fence, but we never have time. It's like we're passing ships.

I really need to meet up properly with my neighbour, and like, have dinner. We talk a lot over the fence, but we never have time. It's like we're passing ships.

My brothers and sister always seem to visit my town when I'm away, so I never get to catch up with them. We're like passing ships.

I've got a colleague I get on with really well, but we work different shifts, so we're like passing ships! We only see each other for a couple of minutes every time.

I've got a colleague I get on with really well, but we work different shifts, so we're like passing ships! We only see each other for a couple of minutes every time.

My best friend and I crossed paths at university, but we didn't actually become friends until much later.

Now, another phrase that expresses a similar idea is 'cross paths'. Again, you can imagine this literally – two people walking on separate paths which then meet. But metaphorically it means that two people's lives intersect in some way.

Now, another phrase that expresses a similar idea is 'cross paths'. Again, you can imagine this literally – two people walking on separate paths which then meet. But metaphorically it means that two people's lives intersect in some way.