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Difference between One of these days and One of those days

one of these days

1. (also: one of these fine days) at some time in the future that may be very soon (used as a promise or prophecy):

  • One of these days he will find a farm to let, big enough to bring up little children on it.

2. said of a day that is full of mishaps; a day when everything seems to go wrong:

  • I had the feeling as soon as the Johnsons trooped in for coffee that it was going to be one of these days.

Note:

a) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase these daysnowadays; at present:

  • These days candidates send swarms of advance men into every city before they arrive.

b) The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase one day—(also: one fine day)

1. at some distant time in the future:

  • One day she will be married and we all will somehow have to live without her.

2. on a certain day in the past:

  • He came to me quite unexpectedly one day and asked me to join his business.

one of those days— = one of these days 2:

  • Oh, it’s one of those days. I bet you anything the horse breaks its legs.