of all days

USAGE SUMMARY

"of all days" is a perfectly usable and correct phrase in written English.
It is used to express surprise or disappointment. For example: "Of all days, I had to get a flat tire on my birthday!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My father was waked on, of all days, Father's Day.

HuffPost

He was just really sad that he didn't matter, on this day of all days.

The New York Times - Style

On this day of all days, would you want your parents dragging you through some museum?

The New York Times

"I was asked formally and on this day of all days why wouldn't you want to help.

The Guardian - Sport

The retired firefighter, Lt. Paul Geidel, just couldn't bring himself to skip Christmas Day of all days.

The New York Times

I know because I phoned the restaurant on that day of all days, still hoping for a cancellation.

The Guardian - Travel

But I am saddened that he has chosen this day of all days to publish his book.

The Guardian

That metaphor too has an unhappy history, one that is especially pertinent on this day of all days.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is exactly what happened on Sunday, May 8th, on Mother's Day, of all days.

Huffington Post

I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that it was this day of all days.

Vice

So you know, on this day of all days, how do you see the nuclear arms race?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of all days" to express irony or misfortune when something happens on a day that makes it particularly inconvenient or inappropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "of all days" in purely descriptive contexts where you simply want to specify a date; it's reserved for situations involving surprise or frustration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of all days" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to express surprise, irony, or frustration about the timing of an event. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "of all days" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express surprise, irony, or frustration about the timing of an event. Ludwig AI affirms its usability and correctness, showcasing its widespread use across various contexts, including News & Media. It functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the action or state of being. While suitable for neutral register, it's crucial to remember that it should be reserved for situations involving a specific unfortunate or ironic timing. Related phrases include "on this particular day" or "on this unfortunate day", although these might shift the emphasis or explicitness of the sentiment. Avoiding its use in purely descriptive contexts will help maintain the phrase's intended idiomatic impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of all the days possible

Emphasizes the improbability of the event happening on that particular day, making the surprise more pronounced.

on this unfortunate day

Similar to 'inauspicious day', it explicitly labels the day as unlucky, removing some of the implied surprise.

on this inauspicious day

Directly implies bad luck or misfortune, making the negativity more explicit than the original phrase.

on the worst possible day

Highlights the negative aspect, suggesting the chosen day was the most inconvenient or problematic.

on this particular day

Focuses on the specific day, highlighting it without the implication of surprise or misfortune.

couldn't it have been any other day?

Expresses frustration and disbelief that the event had to occur on this specific day.

of all times

Broadens the scope from a specific day to any point in time, weakening the emphasis on the 'day' itself.

and it had to be today?

Rhetorical question that conveys frustration and disbelief about the timing of an event.

at this specific moment

Shifts the focus from the day to the exact time, losing the broader context of the 'day'.

was this day really necessary?

Highlights the inconvenience or inappropriateness of the specific day, often sarcastically.

FAQs

How can I use "of all days" in a sentence?

Use "of all days" to express irony or misfortune about something happening on a particularly inconvenient or significant day. For example, "Of all days, the printer broke on the day of my presentation!"

What does "of all days" mean?

It means that something happened on a day that is particularly surprising, inconvenient, or inappropriate. It often implies a sense of frustration or irony.

What can I say instead of "of all days"?

You can use alternatives like "on this inauspicious day" or "on this unfortunate day" to convey a similar sense of misfortune or irony.

Is "of all days" grammatically correct?

Yes, "of all days" is a grammatically correct and widely accepted phrase in English, often used idiomatically to express surprise or frustration.