Rue the day?

[Zootonius]

I'm writing a story about an older woman and her young lover. She is reflecting on that day in the future which she know will come, where they part ways. I like "Rue the day," but refers to the past. Perhaps word mavens can suggest a phase about angst over a future event.

 

[alohadave]

Rue the day works for me. I don't see why she can't have angst for a future date.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I'm writing a story about an older woman and her young lover. She is reflecting on that day in the future which she know will come, where they part ways. I like "Rue the day," but refers to the past. Perhaps word mavens can suggest a phase about angst over a future event.

I don't see any problem with "rue the day" used in reference to the future.

 

[Zootonius]

I don't see any problem with "rue the day" used in reference to the future.View attachment 2388372

Problem is, your example is still in the past. "In the future, you shall rue this past day."

 

[SimonDoom]

It's a great phrase. Go for it.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Problem is, your example is still in the past. "In the future, you shall rue this past day."

Well, that's true, but it's a cute GIF.

 

[Zootonius]

I'm starting to rue posting this question!

Edit: or am I ruing future posts?

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I'm starting to rue posting this question!

Edit: or am I ruing future posts?

We should all be ruing some of our future posts. The problem is figuring out which ones in time to stop them.

 

[lovecraft68]

I like it. Rue McClanahan fan fic is long overdue.

Okay, I'm going to bed now.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I like it. Rue McClanahan fan fic is long overdue.

Okay, I'm going to bed now.

 

[NoTalentHack]

View attachment 2388401

So we can’t roux the day?

 

[Voboy]

I'd say she dreads that day.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Rue the day works for me. I don't see why she can't have angst for a future date.

Agree this. When you think about it, it makes just as much sense for the rue to be in the future, as it does in the past. Worse in a way, because it implies you can't do anything about it, there's an unavoidable inevitability.

 

[Britva415]

She anticipates the day ruefully.

Or rues anticipating the day.

 

[VallesMarineris]

I'm writing a story about an older woman and her young lover. She is reflecting on that day in the future which she know will come, where they part ways. I like "Rue the day," but refers to the past. Perhaps word mavens can suggest a phase about angst over a future event.

My dictionary (New Oxford American) gives this example sentence:

"She might live to rue the day for this impetuous decision."

So you can't rue an event in the future. You have to predict that in the future it will be rued when looked back on. Also, 'rue' implies regret, which she may not feel. Better to have loved and lost, and all that.

How about 'wistful' or 'wistfully'? "She wistfully foresaw the day when they would part ways."

 

[yowser]

Paris street name:

Rue de Regret

 

[LisaMayTurner]

I think "rue" suggests bitterness. If that's what you want to express then "rue" is fine.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I'm writing a story about an older woman and her young lover. She is reflecting on that day in the future which she know will come, where they part ways. I like "Rue the day," but refers to the past. Perhaps word mavens can suggest a phase about angst over a future event.

That's how I've always heard 'Rue the day' used; You will rue the day... If you do that, you'll be sorry.
Perfect usage.

 

[Zootonius]

I'd say she dreads that day.

Yeah, the answer is always obvious after someone points it out.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

Yeah, the answer is always obvious after someone points it out.

Rue the Day is correct. In fact not only do I think it’s correct it could also be the stories title.

It gives a great sense of foreboding.

 

[ChuckWolf]

There's always, "You'll be sorry!"

 

[NotWise]

For a future date, I'd probably use "dread the day," rather than "rue the day,"

 

[Britva415]

I'm writing a story about an older woman and her young lover. She is reflecting on that day in the future which she know will come, where they part ways. I like "Rue the day," but refers to the past. Perhaps word mavens can suggest a phase about angst over a future event.

You can rue today the fact that the event is coming, even though it hasn't happened yet.

She (presently) rues that they will (later) have to part.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I keep getting distracted by the fact that "Rue" is an uncommon female-gendered name. (It's an herb, like rapunzel.) Rue McClanahan is the only famous one I can think of.

-Billie

 

[Voboy]

Yeah, the answer is always obvious after someone points it out.

Dread's the right word.

If I read "rue" in that context, it would bother me. It might be grammatically correct, but I think anyone who would actually use the term in a sentence would not use it as you're suggesting in the first post. It's hard for me to explain why, but it just doesn't ring true to me.