Water Under the Bridge: Meaning, Examples and Sentences

Elaboration and Examples:

The idiom “Water under the bridge” refers to past events or situations that have occurred and are no longer relevant or worth dwelling upon. It suggests that the issues or conflicts have been resolved, forgiven, or forgotten, and it is now time to move on. The idiom implies that whatever has happened cannot be changed and is now a part of history.

Example 1:

Imagine two friends, Sarah and Emma, who had a disagreement a year ago. They stopped talking to each other and held onto their anger. However, after some time, they realized that their friendship was too important to be ruined over a small argument. They decided to meet and talk it out. During their conversation, they acknowledged that the disagreement was water under the bridge. They apologized to each other, forgave one another, and moved forward, strengthening their friendship.

Example 2:

Consider a sports team that lost an important game in the past season. The players were disappointed and frustrated, but they realized that dwelling on that loss wouldn’t change the outcome. Instead, they focused on their mistakes and worked hard to improve their skills during the off-season. When the new season began, they used the previous loss as motivation and approached each game with a fresh mindset. They understood that the past defeat was water under the bridge and used it as a learning experience to strive for success in the present.

In both examples, the idiom “water under the bridge” signifies the acceptance and acknowledgment that the past events or conflicts have been resolved and should no longer negatively impact the present or future. It encourages individuals to let go of grudges, move on from past mistakes, and focus on the present opportunities for growth and reconciliation.

Sentences on “Water Under the Bridge”