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What does the phrase 'too late to drink Borjomi' mean?

The meaning of the saying and its full form.

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Short answer

'Too late to drink Borjomi' is a Russian colloquial saying meaning it's too late to fix things and action should have been taken earlier. The full form is 'too late to drink Borjomi when your kidneys have failed' or 'when your liver has given out'. Borjomi features because this mineral water has long been known as medicinal.

The Borjomi gorge and mineral water faq-cover-georgian-language.png

Why

  1. The saying became especially common in Russian from the 2000s.
  2. In 2006 Russia banned imports of Georgian mineral water, making the phrase even more popular.
  3. A similar saying is 'no use waving your fists after the fight'.

Details

In Georgia the saying is mostly known among Russian speakers; Georgians don't use it. Borjomi itself is drunk for digestion, but in moderation.

Tip

Don't use this saying with Georgians; they usually don't know it and the joke may fall flat.

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Information checked on October 4, 2026.

The Borjomi gorge and mineral water

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