Run in and out of

[jiho]

Hi all,

what is the meaning of «run in and out» inthe following context?:

«Gratitude and admiration ran in and out of his regret ever after».

It refers to a man whose father has recently died. At first he felt regret (because he thought he should feel consternated and he really did not), and then, after reading his father's generous will, he also felt gratitude and admiration.

Thank You!!

 

[louhevly]

Hi all,

what is the meaning of «run in and out» inthe following context?:

«Gratitude and admiration ran in and out of his regret ever after».

It refers to a man whose father has recently died. At first he felt regret (because he thought he should feel consternated and he really did not), and then, after reading his father's generous will, he also felt gratitude and admiration.

Thank You!!

I would say it was written by a non-native, probably trying to say that his regret was affected by gratitude and admiration. But you'd have to ask the author to be sure.

 

[jiho]

I would say it was written by a non-native, probably trying to say that his regret was affected by gratitude and admiration. But you'd have to ask the author to be sure.

Thank You for your response but i am afraid she is British...
Janet Browne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So, if she, instead of a non-native, was a Harvard Professor, what do you think she could mean with «run in and out»?

Maybe «fluctuate»?

Thanks!

 

[louhevly]

Thank You for your response but i am afraid she is British...
Janet Browne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So, if she, instead of a non-native, was a Harvard Professor, what do you think she could mean with «run in and out»?

Maybe «fluctuate»?

Thanks!

Even native speakers can make mistakes or use bad judgement. As to what it means, "fluctuate" is perhaps a good guess.

 

[jiho]

Even native speakers can make mistakes or use bad judgement. As to what it means, "fluctuate" is perhaps a good guess.

Thank you so much, louhevly

 

[Anglika]

Hi all,

what is the meaning of «run in and out» inthe following context?:

«Gratitude and admiration ran in and out of his regret ever after».

It refers to a man whose father has recently died. At first he felt regret (because he thought he should feel consternated and he really did not), and then, after reading his father's generous will, he also felt gratitude and admiration.

Thank You!!

All through his life, his sense of regret about his father is periodically affected by his feelings of admiration and gratitude for what his father provided in his will.

It is a vivid figure of speech.

 

[jiho]

All through his life, his sense of regret about his father is periodically affected by his feelings of admiration and gratitude for what his father provided in his will.

It is a vivid figure of speech.

Ok Anglika, I see the point.
Thank you for your detailed explanation, always helpful!