Used to signify a life situation that has already happened and cannot be changed; therefore, one should not worry about it. The analogy to water having passed under the bridge means that there is nothing you can do about it since it's already passed, so no reason to dwell on it. What's done is done.

Etymology:

  • The earliest mention of ther term "water under the bridge " found has a French origin from the 1762 "Dictionnaire de l'Académie française", meaning the "Dictionary of French Academy".
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Stop worrying about that, it's water under the bridge so move on.

Submitted on February 25, 2019

Additional definitions for 'Water Under the Bridge':

water under the bridgeSomething in the past that cannot be controlled or undone, but must be accepted, forgiven, or forgotten.
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Translation

Find a translation for the Water Under the Bridge phrase in other languages:

vand under broen

l'eau sous le pont

víz a híd alatt

Acqua sotto il ponte

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    "Water Under the Bridge." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/water-under-the-bridge_45124>.

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