Meaning & use
I rue the day
Last updated
Meaning
phraseidiomliterary
to feel deep and lasting regret about a past event or decision, often wishing it had never happened
Grammar: Fixed phrase; the subject can change (he rues the day, she rued the day), and it is often followed by 'that' or a clause.
Patterns
- I rue the day (that) ...
- rue the day you did something
I rue the day I sold that old house; it would be worth a fortune now.
She rued the day she agreed to lend him her car.
He will rue the day he ignored his doctor's advice.
Word forms
| third person singular | rues the day |
|---|---|
| past tense | rued the day |
| past participle | rued the day |
| -ing form | ruing the day |
Common combinations
- rue the day (that) you met someone
- He rued the day he met her.
- rue the day you were born
- You'll rue the day you were born if you cross him.
- will rue the day
- The company will rue the day it ignored the warnings.
Synonyms and how they differ
- regret
- A general verb for feeling sorry about something; 'rue the day' is stronger and more literary, suggesting lasting bitterness.
- lament
- Means to express sorrow or regret, often publicly; 'rue the day' is more personal and fixed to a specific day or event.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: I rue the day or rule the day?
I rue the day vs rule the day
'Rule the day' means to be the most important or successful thing on a particular day. 'Rue the day' means to regret it bitterly.
Practice
Complete the sentence: 'She ___ the day she left her hometown.'
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'rued' fits because the sentence describes a completed past regret. 'Ruled' is a different verb meaning 'controlled', and 'rue' is the base form, which does not fit after 'she' in a past context.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “I rue the day”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.