Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

water-over-the-dam

idiom

/ˈwɔːtər ˈʌndər ðə brɪdʒ/

Definition

A situation that has already happened and cannot be changed; events that are now in the past.

Examples

After the argument, I decided it was best to treat it as water under the bridge.
She realized that holding onto past mistakes was pointless; it was all water under the dam now.
It’s time to move forward and let the past stay where it belongs, water over the dam.

Meaning

The phrase ‘water under the bridge’ refers to things that have happened and can no longer be dealt with or altered. It implies that you should not dwell on past occurrences, as they are done and over.