passing regret

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passing regret" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a fleeting or temporary feeling of regret about something that has happened or a decision that was made. Example: "As I looked back on my choices, I felt a passing regret for not pursuing my passion earlier in life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He expresses mild, passing regret ("the smaller and obscurer the town the more I like the museum"), before turning to the serious business of loafing.

The New York Times - Travel

Instead of fighting, he walked away, seemingly with only passing regret.

Forbes

Good riddance murmured all of us, with just a passing regret that the Marquess hadn't been chained to Hyde Park railings for at least one night before being allowed to scuttle back to Blenheim.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Boeing, which last week had threatened to relocate assembly of the highly anticipated new jet model to other locations if the union contract failed to pass, expressed regret over the result.

The New York Times

Many more such controversies have passed without regret since, but Trump's closely watched standing in opinion polls has plummeted after he last month attacked the parents of a Muslim war hero who died serving in the US army.

The Guardian

Now that your grandmother has passed, you regret not putting more effort into staying connected.

WikiHow

I now regret passing up the opportunity.

The Guardian

Did Rogers regret passing up the Rangers' offer?

The New York Times

He says he doesn't regret passing on the developers' money — as much as $3.5 million — and would do the same thing again.

The New York Times

The scout, whose team considered drafting Blair, praised him as a "dominating force around the basket" who was likely to make teams regret passing on him.

The New York Times - Sports

But I still think conservatives may live to regret passing on a bigger deal, and liberals may view this bargain much more favorably in hindsight than they do right now.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passing regret" to describe a feeling of regret that is not intense or long-lasting. It's suitable when the regret is a minor or temporary sentiment.

Common error

Avoid using "passing regret" when the situation warrants a stronger expression of remorse. This phrase is inappropriate for serious or deeply impactful situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passing regret" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "passing" modifies the noun "regret", indicating the transient nature of the feeling. Ludwig examples show it used to describe brief, mild feelings of disappointment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "passing regret" describes a temporary and mild feeling of remorse, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and appears primarily in news and media sources. Alternative phrases like "fleeting regret" or "momentary regret" can be used to convey a similar sentiment. When writing, be mindful of the intensity of the situation and avoid using "passing regret" when a stronger expression of remorse is necessary. While the term is correct, it's important to accurately represent the degree of regret felt.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fleeting regret

Emphasizes the brief duration of the regret.

Momentary regret

Highlights the short-lived nature of the feeling.

Brief remorse

Uses "remorse" instead of "regret", suggesting a slightly deeper, but still short-lived, feeling of guilt.

Slight regret

Indicates the intensity or degree of regret felt.

Mild regret

Similar to "slight regret", emphasizing the lack of intensity.

Transient regret

Focuses on the temporary nature of the regret.

Short-lived regret

Directly expresses the brief duration of the regret.

Fleeting sense of regret

Adds emphasis to the overall feeling.

Quick regret

Indicates the brevity of the regret.

Light regret

Suggests a non-intense or insignificant emotion of disappointment.

FAQs

How can I use "passing regret" in a sentence?

You can use "passing regret" to describe a temporary or mild feeling of remorse, such as: "She felt a "passing regret" for not attending the concert".

What's a good alternative to "passing regret"?

Alternatives include "fleeting regret", "slight regret", or "momentary regret", which all convey a similar sense of temporary or mild remorse.

Is it appropriate to use "passing regret" in formal writing?

Yes, "passing regret" is appropriate for formal writing when describing a minor or temporary feeling of remorse. However, ensure the context doesn't require a stronger expression of regret.

What's the difference between "passing regret" and "deep regret"?

"Passing regret" indicates a mild, temporary feeling, while "deep regret" implies a strong, persistent feeling of remorse. The choice depends on the intensity of the emotion you want to convey.