water under the bridge

What it means

Past events, mistakes, or conflicts that are over and no longer worth worrying about. People say it to show they've let go of old grievances and want to move on.

Examples

• We had a big argument years ago, but it's all water under the bridge now.
• Don't apologise again — that mistake is water under the bridge.
• Their old rivalry is water under the bridge since they became business partners.
• I forgave him long ago; it's water under the bridge as far as I'm concerned.

Where it comes from

Drawn from the image of river water flowing under a bridge and away downstream, never to return; the phrase became common in early 20th-century English.

Related idioms