What does it Mean to ‘Let Bygones be Bygones’?
“Let bygones be bygones” means to forget or disregard past differences; to stop focusing on past conflicts and consider them resolved.
In this expression, the word ‘bygones’ is a made-up word from the 14th century which refers to the things that happened in the past. The things that have gone by are called bygones.
So, this expression means let the past be in the past and focus on the present.
For example —
“It has been three years since you talked to your brother. It’s high time you let bygones be bygones and call him.”
It means that you should put your past differences aside and call your brother.
There is another idiom that expresses a similar idea, and that is — “Water under the bridge”.
This idiom is used to say that past disagreements are put aside; they are now considered resolved and not worth arguing about.
For example —
“Don’t even mention what happened between us eleven years ago. It’s all water under the bridge now.”
This example is self-explanatory.
I hope you found this story interesting. If you did, buy my full course on Udemy or watch it for free on Skillshare by signing up here. This course covers nearly 380 idioms with their origins and backstories.
Hi, I am Gauri Shanker, a Vocab teacher and enthusiast. I teach vocabulary in a fun and engaging way. You can check out my courses here.
