Etymology Journal ยท L
Let bygones be bygones
Meaning
- To forgive and forget past grievances. It is a way of saying it is time to move on from a fight without holding a grudge.
Forgiving, mature
Used in a sentence
- We had our differences in the past, but let's let bygones be bygones.
- Life is too short to fight, so let's just let bygones be bygones.
- If you want to move forward, we must let bygones be bygones.
The backstory
This phrase appeared in print as early as the 16th century. It is a traditional way to suggest that dwelling on the past is unproductive.
Heard in
Nationwide
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