I’m afraid

idiom

Meaning

A polite way to introduce bad news, a disagreement, or something you are sorry about. It doesn't usually mean you are scared.

Examples

SIMPLE

I’m afraid I cannot come to your party tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

I’m afraid the train is delayed, so we will arrive later than expected.

COMPLEX

I’m afraid that your current proposal does not meet the requirements of the project, so we must ask for a revision.

Last updated April 22, 2026