GRAMMAR DETAIL

〜そびれる

miss the chance to · fail to get around to

Indicates failing to carry out an intended action at the proper time and ultimately missing the opportunity.

Examples

話す機会を待っていたが、結局彼に謝りそびれた。

I waited for a chance to talk, but in the end I never managed to apologize to him.

電話をかけそびれて、連絡が遅れた。

I failed to get around to calling, so I was late in making contact.

忙しくて昼ご飯を食べそびれた。

I was so busy that I missed lunch.

Structure: そびれる after a verb's masu-stem describes failing to perform an intended action by missing the right opportunity.
Basic usage: 忙しくて昼ご飯を食べそびれた。 says that being busy caused someone to miss the chance to eat lunch.

Missing an opportunity rather than an unsuccessful attempt
- 謝りそびれた means missing the opportunity to apologize. It differs from actually apologizing and having the apology rejected.
The first stem and the ending's inflection
- かける connects as かけそびれる, while 謝る connects as 謝りそびれる. Inflect the ending for past 謝りそびれた or linking かけそびれて.