water under the bridge

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

past events, difficulties, or disagreements that have already occurred and been resolved or accepted, and which should not be revisited or allowed to cause ongoing harm to current relationships or endeavours; the image of water flowing under a bridge and away downstream captures the irreversibility of past events and the futility of dwelling on what cannot be changed; the phrase is typically used to counsel against holding grudges, relitigating old disputes, or allowing historical grievances to obstruct present cooperation, inviting all parties to acknowledge the past and focus on what can be done in the present and future