sorry

sor|ry

W2S1 [ˈsɔri US ˈsa:ri, ˈso:ri] adj comparative sorrier superlative sorriest

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1 sorry/I'm sorry

2¦(ashamed)¦

3 sorry?

4¦(feeling pity)¦

5¦(sad/disappointed)¦

6 you'll be sorry

7 I'm sorry to say (that)

8¦(very bad)¦

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[: Old English; Origin: sarig, from sar ( SORE¹); influenced by sorrow)]

1.) sorry/I'm sorry

spoken

a) used to tell someone that you wish you had not done something that has affected them badly, hurt them etc

▪ I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

▪ 'Matt, stop doing that!' 'Sorry!'

▪ I'm sorry, did I step on your foot?

sorry (that)

▪ I'm sorry I'm late - the traffic was terrible.

sorry/I'm sorry about

▪ Sorry about the mess - I'll clean it up.

sorry for (doing) sth

▪ I'm sorry for making such a fuss.

▪ Sorry to bother you , but what was the address again?

see usage note ↑excuse¹

b) used as a polite way of introducing disappointing information or a piece of bad news

▪ I'm sorry, but all the flights to Athens are fully booked.

c) used when you have said something that is not correct, and want to say something that is correct

▪ Turn right - sorry left - at the traffic lights.

d) used when you refuse an offer or request

▪ 'Are you coming to lunch?' 'Sorry, no. I've got to finish this work.'

▪ 'I'll give you $50 for it.' 'Sorry, no deal.'

e) used when you disagree with someone, or tell someone that they have done something wrong

▪ I'm sorry, but I find that very hard to believe, Miss Brannigan.

2.) ¦(ASHAMED)¦ [not before noun]

feeling ashamed or unhappy about something bad you have done

sorry for

▪ She was genuinely sorry for what she had done.

sorry (that)

▪ Casey was sorry he'd gotten so angry.

say (you are) sorry

(=tell someone that you feel bad about hurting them, causing problems etc)

▪ It was probably too late to say sorry, but she would try anyway.

see usage note ↑regret¹

3.) sorry?

spoken especially BrE used to ask someone to repeat something that you have not heard properly

= ↑pardon

▪ Sorry? What was that again?

▪ 'Want a drink?' 'Sorry?' 'I said, would you like a drink?'

4.) ¦(FEELING PITY)¦

be/feel sorry for sb

to feel pity or sympathy for someone because something bad has happened to them or because they are in a bad situation

▪ I've got no sympathy for him, but I feel sorry for his wife.

▪ Tina was sorry for her. She seemed so lonely.

feel sorry for yourself

(=feel unhappy and pity yourself)

▪ It's no good feeling sorry for yourself. It's all your own fault.

5.) ¦(SAD/DISAPPOINTED)¦ [not before noun]

feeling sad about a situation, and wishing it were different

sorry (that)

▪ Brigid was always sorry she hadn't kept up her piano lessons.

sorry to do sth

▪ We were sorry to miss your concert.

▪ I won't be sorry to leave this place.

sorry to hear/see/learn

▪ I was sorry to hear about your accident.

sorry about

▪ I'm so sorry about your father (=I am sorry something bad has happened to him) .

6.) you'll be sorry

spoken used to tell someone that they will soon wish they had not done something, especially because someone will be angry or punish them

▪ You'll be sorry when your dad hears about this.

7.) I'm sorry to say (that)

spoken used to say that you are disappointed that something has happened

▪ I wrote several times but they never replied, I'm sorry to say.

8.) ¦(VERY BAD)¦ [only before noun]

very bad, especially in a way that makes you feel pity or disapproval

▪ the sorry state of the environment

▪ It's a sorry state of affairs when an old lady has to wait 12 hours to see a doctor.

▪ the sorry sight of so many dead animals

▪ This whole sorry episode (=bad thing that happened) shows just how incompetent the government has become.

→better (to be) safe than sorry at ↑safe¹ (9)