Meaning & use
you'll rue the day
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
You will later feel very sorry for something you have done.
Grammar: Usually followed by a clause beginning with 'you' or 'that': rue the day you did something.
Patterns
- you'll rue the day you did something
- you'll rue the day that ...
If you betray us, you'll rue the day you ever met me.
He warned his rival, 'You'll rue the day you challenged me.'
She said she would make him rue the day he lied to her.
Common combinations
- rue the day you were born
- The villain screamed, 'You'll rue the day you were born!'
- rue the day you met someone
- You'll rue the day you met her if you cross her.
- rue the day you decided
- He will rue the day he decided to ignore the warning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- you'll regret it
- More general and less dramatic; 'rue the day' is stronger and more literary.
- you'll live to regret it
- Similar meaning but often implies a longer period of regret.
Word family
Commonly confused: you'll rue the day or rule the day?
you'll rue the day vs rule the day
'Rule the day' means to be the most important or successful thing, not to feel regret.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'you'll rue the day' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'You'll rue the day you crossed me' is a threat of future regret. The others misuse the phrase for positive events or time.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “you'll rue the day”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.