Cool MateI'm sorry to let you down vs Regret
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I'm sorry to let you down
Top 2,000 (common)
Regret
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Regret
| I'm sorry to let you down | Regret | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //aɪm ˈsɒri tə lɛt jʊ daʊn//🇺🇸 //aɪm ˈsɔri tə lɛt jʊ daʊn// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | I feel bad for not meeting your expectations. | To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do. |
| Example | I’m sorry to let you down, but I can’t come to the meeting. | I regret not studying harder for my exams. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | let someone down, sorry to let you down, I don't want to let you down | bitterly, deeply, greatly, begin to, come to, grow to, bitterly, deeply, greatly, begin to, come to, grow to |
| Antonyms | - | satisfaction, contentment, pride |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'let down' as a noun instead of a verb phrase., Using it too frequently can make it lose impact. | 'Regret' is often confused with 'remorse'. Remorse includes a stronger sense of guilt., Learners might say 'I regret to do...' instead of 'I regret doing...'., Confusion between 'regret' and 'regrettable' which is an adjective. |
| Usage notes | Use in personal or professional situations to express regret when disappointing someone. Avoid in very casual contexts. | Use 'regret' to express feelings about past actions. It's appropriate in neutral to formal contexts, but less so in casual conversations where simpler phrases might fit better. |
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Frequently asked questions: I'm sorry to let you down vs Regret
What's the difference between I'm sorry to let you down and Regret?
I'm sorry to let you down: I feel bad for not meeting your expectations. Regret: To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do.
Which is more common: I'm sorry to let you down and Regret?
Regret is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
I'm sorry to let you down: I’m sorry to let you down, but I can’t come to the meeting. Regret: I regret not studying harder for my exams.
Can I use I'm sorry to let you down and Regret interchangeably?
Not always. I'm sorry to let you down and Regret are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.