I am over of course over exaggerating. Missing one workout will not lose your gains, and ultimately not a big deal (as long as you get back in the gym the next day). For those who have lifted weights or exercised regularly, then you know those mornings where it is just not your day. Body is beat up, overextended yourself at the gym the day prior, kids got up several times during the night, Murphy's law happens. Anyway, losing your gains takes a bit longer than one day.
Detraining is simply the loss of physiological adaptations and decrement in performance. In laymen's terms it means losing your gains (atrophy) and not performing as well in your sport or fitness test. This happens when a significant reduction in frequency, volume, intensity or any combination of the three. Repeating the same workout over and over without using progressive overload (gradually adding weight to a set) or increasing the number of sets or increasing the number of times I work out the gains will eventually go away. If you can remember the articles about how gains are introduced through neural adaptations then muscular adaptions. Detraining happens in the reverse order, first you lost your mental (neural) gains then muscular atrophy happens.
The depth of detraining depends on the length of detraining and training status of the individual. If I take off a week from the gym or take a week to focus on stretching/foam rolling it is probably not going to be a big deal. In fact, I would recommend taking a week "break" after a macrocycle (4-6 weeks of training) and stretch/foam roll, conduct some light running or light lifting. Many in the fitness industry call a period of light lifting de-load week. Taking off a month of training is another story. Also, If I am already in good shape than taking a few days won't hurt me. In fact, it may help has the body had a chance to recover. Even after four weeks of inactivity strength gains are maintained. However, if I am a newbie at the gym and take time off then my detraining will happen sooner. Getting back in the gym after time off isn't as much as an undertaking. as you might think. Very rarely is strength lower than pertaining levels promoting the idea of "muscle memory." If you have squatted 315 before and take time off the gym, then it won't be long before you can squat 315 again. The caveat to this is injuries; having knee surgery will 100% stunt your gains as you have to build up the legs all over again.
Don't get it twisted though, some immediate gains are lost. Peak power and peak speed decline much faster than strength gains. Hence why Anaerobic athletes such as sprinters and jumpers do not detrain. They may reduce the volume, but not the peak. Difference between doing 4 sets of 6 squats at 85% to 2 sets of 6 at 85%. See how the peak is still there but the volume decreases? This would be a way to keep peak power and reduce volume. Additionally, muscle fiber transitions that took place when you were grinding in the gym are now reversed. Your peak fast twitch muscle fibers (Type 2x) will transition back towards Type 2a.
In summary, missing a day or two at the gym will not immediately cause atrophy of the muscles.
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