noun phrase

water under the bridge

WAW-ter UN-der thuh brij

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Water under the bridge (noun phrase) means something unpleasant that happened in the past and is no longer worth being upset about. Example: “We fell out badly in our twenties, but it's all water under the bridge now.”

noun phrase

Something unpleasant that happened in the past and is no longer worth being upset about.

"We fell out badly in our twenties, but it's all water under the bridge now."

"She apologised, he shrugged, and they treated the whole row as water under the bridge."

How to use water under the bridge

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old problem that nobody minds about any more.

When to use it

Idiomatic and neutral; treated as uncountable, so say "it's water under the bridge", never "a water under the bridge". Usually said by the injured party as a signal that they have let it go.

Memory tip

The image is of water that has flowed past and cannot come back — the point is that it is gone, not that it was unimportant.

Easily confused with

water over the dam let bygones be bygones

Common pairings

all water under the bridge that's water under the bridge consider it water under the bridge

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “water under the bridge” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We fell out badly in our twenties, but it's all _____ now.

Synonyms

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ancient history past history done and dusted bygones

Related words

bygones

Rhymes for water under the bridge

ridge midge pidge nidge bridge fridge smidge porridge Coolidge Aldridge Eldridge Claridge

See all rhymes for water under the bridge →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between water under the bridge and letting bygones be bygones?

They are close in meaning. "Water under the bridge" states that the matter no longer counts; "let bygones be bygones" is a request or agreement to stop dwelling on it. The first describes a settled state, the second proposes one.

Is it water under the bridge or over the bridge?

Under. Water flows under a bridge and away downstream, which is the whole image. "Water over the dam" is a separate American idiom with the same meaning.

What is the meaning of water under the bridge?

"water under the bridge" (noun phrase) means something unpleasant that happened in the past and is no longer worth being upset about.

What is another word for water under the bridge?

Other words for "water under the bridge" include ancient history, past history, done and dusted, bygones.

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