Let bygones be bygones

[0504] Water under the bridge

🎲 Give someone the cold shoulder
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Refers to past events, particularly problems, conflicts, or mistakes, that are now considered finished, unimportant, and no longer worth worrying about.
  • Implies that these events belong to the past and cannot be changed, so dwelling on them is pointless.

Origin

  • A vivid metaphor comparing past events to water that has already flowed under a bridge.
  • Once the water has passed, it's gone downstream and cannot be brought back or altered.
  • The phrase became common in the early 20th century, emphasizing the irreversible nature of the past.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Let bygones be bygones
  • It's in the past
  • Ancient history
  • Forgotten / Over and done with
  • That ship has sailed (implies an opportunity is past, slightly different nuance)
  • Spilt milk (no use crying over something past that can't be fixed)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • It's history. / That's ancient history.
  • That's old news.
  • Forget about it.
  • Dead and buried (implies the issue is completely finished)
  • In the rearview mirror (behind us, past)

Milder/Standard:

  • It's in the past.
  • That's behind us now.
  • We've moved past that.
  • It's no longer relevant.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Suitable for informal and semi-formal contexts.
  • A common and generally gentle way to indicate that a past issue is no longer relevant or problematic.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The literal image is quite clear, but learners need to grasp the specific figurative meaning: past, resolved, and no longer important or worth discussing.

Examples

  • Yes, we had a major disagreement years ago, but that's all water under the bridge now.
  • Don't keep apologizing for being late yesterday; it's water under the bridge.
  • He used to dislike his boss, but that's water under the bridge since he got promoted.

Dialogue

Paul: Man, I still feel embarrassed about how I messed up that presentation back in college.

Rachel: Seriously? Paul, that was like ten years ago! It's totally water under the bridge. Nobody remembers it but you!

Paul: Haha, you're probably right. Thanks.

Rachel: Anytime. Now, about this *current* project...

Social Media Examples

  • Post: Thinking about old mistakes? Nah, it's water under the bridge. Focus on where you're going! #positivity #movingforward #noregrets
  • Comment on an old argument being rehashed: Guys, can we not? That's water under the bridge.
  • Tweet: Had a surprisingly nice chat with my ex today. All the drama is water under the bridge, thankfully.

Response Patterns

  • Agreement (Yeah, no point dwelling on it, True, we've moved past that, Exactly).
  • Acknowledgment (Okay, good, Right).
  • Relief (Glad to hear it).

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • Shifting the conversation to the present or future.
  • Confirming that there are no lingering hard feelings.
  • Expressing relief or closure regarding the past issue.

Conversation Starter

  • No.
  • Used to comment on the current status (irrelevance) of past events.

Intonation

  • Emphasis usually on water and bridge.
  • Oh, that's all WATER under the BRIDGE now.

Generation Differences

  • Common and understood across all generations.

Regional Variations

  • Widely used in English-speaking countries.
Let bygones be bygones
🎲 Give someone the cold shoulder