water over the dam
Can't change now
Water over the dam describes something that has already happened and cannot be changed—events now past the point of intervention.
Like water that has flowed past a dam, it's gone and there's no retrieving it.
The phrase counsels acceptance rather than regret: What's done is done—it's water over the dam.
Also *water under the bridge*, with the same meaning.
- spillwayDam's water release structure
- dam burstStructural water barrier failure
- bygoneOf earlier times
- turn the pageAdvance to new beginnings
- spilled milkIrreversible minor accident
ancient history · move forward · moving on · fresh start · clean slate · time heals · reservoir · river flow · floodgate · let it go · flow · irreversible · past tense · lost time · forgotten · lost · ebb and flow · tidal wave
water over the dampressing matter
imminent threat · unfinished business · matter at hand · open question · work in progress
water over the damopen wound
Unhealed break in skin
bone of contention · sticking point · raw nerve · grudge · chip on one's shoulder
water over the damcrying shame
A great misfortune
big deal · cause for concern · bone to pick · axe to grind · chip on one's shoulder
water, waters, watered, watering, watery, waterless, watershed, waterfall, waterproof