water under the bridge en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(idiomatic, uncountable) Something in the past that cannot be controlled or undone, but must be accepted, forgiven, or forgotten.
Ilsa: It's been a long time. Sam: Yes, ma'am. A lot of water under the bridge.
1942, Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch, Casablanca:Lot of water under the bridge; lot of other stuff, too / Don’t get up, gentlemen, I’m only passing through
2000, Bob Dylan, “Things Have Changed”:They agreed that their old disputes were water under the bridge and decided to make a fresh start.
Coordinates
bygones · fait accompli · done deal · ancient history
Relateds
yesterday is gone · irreversibility · what's done is done · no use crying over spilt milk · cry over spilt milk · the die is cast · bury the hatchet · that ship has sailed · here we are · let bygones be bygones · that train has left the station · you can't unring a bell
Synonyms
Translations (18)
el νερό κι αλάτι (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · el ο γέγονε, γέγονε (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · ja 終わったこと (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · ru прошлогодний снег (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · pl po ptokach (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · fi mennyt (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · nl gedane zaken maken geen keer (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · hu sok víz lefolyt azóta a Dunán (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · pl było, minęło (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · es agua pasada (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · nb snøen som falt i fjor (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · cmn 過去的事 /过去的事 (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · pt águas passadas não movem moinhos (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · fr histoire ancienne (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · de Schnee von gestern (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · fr de l'eau a coulé sous les ponts (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · fi ollut ja mennyt (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted) · pt águas passadas (something in the past that cannot be controlled but must be accepted)