Dictionary

let bygones be bygones en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /lɛt ˈbaɪɡɒnz biː ˈbaɪɡɒnz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /lɛt ˈbaɪˌɡɑnz bi ˈbaɪˌɡɑnz/ (General-American)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From bygone (“event that happened in the past”).

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence (when dealing with another individual).
   • "Never mind, I'll give you a hundred dollars for it," said the king; "you did me out of horse and saddle the other day, and the bridle too, but I'll let bygones be bygones, if I get the pot." 1881, P. Chr. Asbjörnsen [i.e., Peter Christen Asbjørnsen], “Peik”, in H. L. Brækstad, transl., Round the Yule Log. Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales, London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, →OCLC, page 196:
   • You'll find, when you come back, I promise you, Kit, that everyone is willing to let bygones be bygones, and that you can make a fresh start. 1958, Elizabeth George Speare, chapter 20, in The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Company, published 1986, →ISBN, pages 228–229:
   • But I ain't got no quarrel witcha. Just let bygones be bygones. 1992, Ethel Footman Smothers, “Let Bygones Be Bygones”, in Down in the Piney Woods (A Borzoi Book), New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →ISBN, page 145:
   • To intrude as little of his personality as possible upon a gay event with which that personality could show nothing in keeping, he decided not to make his appearance till evening—when stiffness would have worn off, and a gentle wish to let bygones be bygones would exercise its say in all hearts. 1886 May, Thomas Hardy, chapter 44, in The Life and Death of the Mayor of Casterbridge: The Story of a Man of Character, London: The Folio Society, published 1968 (1996 printing), →OCLC, page 323:

Forms

Relateds

let sleeping dogs lie · water under the bridge

Synonyms

forgive and forget

Translations (37)

ru кто ста́рое помя́нет, тому́ глаз вон (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · pt águas passadas não movem moinhos (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · hu fátylat rá (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · de Schwamm drüber (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · ru что бы́ло, то прошло́ и быльём поросло́ (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · cs co bylo, bylo (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · cmn 讓過去過去吧 /让过去过去吧 (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · es el pasado, pasado está (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · es agua pasada no mueve molino (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · pl puszczać w niepamięć (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · ja 過去のことは水に流せ (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · hu ami volt, elmúlt (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · pl puścić w niepamięć (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · cy peidiwn â dal dig (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · is strika yfir fortíðina (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · ja 既往は咎めず (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · fi antaa menneiden olla menneitä (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · it acqua passata non macina più (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · ga an rud atá thart bíodh sé thart (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · hu ami történt, megtörtént (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · hu ami elmúlt, elmúlt (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · id masa lalu biarlah masa lalu (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · el περασμένα ξεχασμένα (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · es pelillos a la mar (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · hu spongyát rá (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · fr passer l'éponge (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · hu a múlt legyen a múlté (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · es borrón y cuenta nueva (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · ko 과거를 묻지 마세요 (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · nl zand erover (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · es lo pasado, pisado (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · hu borítsunk fátylat a múltra (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · ca fer creu i ratlla (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · fi sitä tikulla silmään joka vanhoja muistelee (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · cmn 既往不咎 (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · nl geen oude koeien uit de sloot halen (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence) · is láta hið liðna vera gleymt (to disregard or ignore a past difficulty in a relationship or an offence)