Welcome! Today, we’ll learn about special phrases called idioms. These are fun ways people say they wish they could change something they did.
Regret Idioms
Here are 20 regret idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
Cry over spilt milk
Meaning: Upset about past mistakes
Example: Don’t cry over spilt milk; just try again.
Kick oneself
Meaning: Regret a past action
Example: I always kick myself for not studying more.
If only
Meaning: Wishing things were different
Example: If only I had left earlier!
Miss the boat
Meaning: Miss an opportunity
Example: He really missed the boat on that deal.
That ship has sailed
Meaning: It’s too late
Example: I’m too late; that ship has sailed.
Bite one’s tongue
Meaning: Regret saying something
Example: I should have bitten my tongue.
With hindsight
Meaning: Understanding after an event
Example: With hindsight, I’d have done it differently.
Rue the day
Meaning: Deeply regret
Example: He will rue the day he said that.
Eat one’s words
Meaning: Take back what you said
Example: I had to eat my words after the error.
Eat your heart out
Meaning: Feel jealous or regretful
Example: She won the prize—eat your heart out!
Have second thoughts
Meaning: Rethink a decision
Example: I’m having second thoughts about our trip.
I regret to inform you
Meaning: Sorry to give bad news
Example: I regret to inform you that we’re closed.
If I had my time again
Meaning: Wishing to go back in time
Example: If I had my time again, I’d study harder.
Live to regret it
Meaning: Will regret this later
Example: You’ll live to regret it if you go.
Look back in anger
Meaning: Remember with regret
Example: He often looks back in anger at those days.
No use crying over spilt milk
Meaning: No point in regretting
Example: It’s no use crying over spilt milk now.
Regret nothing
Meaning: Happy with past choices
Example: I regret nothing about my decisions.
Sorry state
Meaning: Bad situation due to past actions
Example: He left his garden in a sorry state.
Too little, too late
Meaning: Effort that’s inadequate and overdue
Example: Her apology was too little, too late.
Wasted opportunity
Meaning: Missed chance
Example: Not going was a wasted opportunity.
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