- Meaning
- This idiom describes past events, conflicts, or grievances that are no longer relevant, forgiven, or worth dwelling on, as if they have flowed away like water passing under a bridge. It conveys a sense of letting go, moving on, or accepting that what’s done is done, used in personal, social, or professional contexts to emphasize reconciliation or closure. The phrase carries a tone of calm acceptance, forgiveness, or perspective, reflecting cultural values of emotional maturity and the human capacity to release grudges for the sake of peace. It resonates in settings where relationships or progress require leaving the past behind, capturing the transient nature of conflicts and the healing power of time. The idiom’s serene imagery evokes a natural, inevitable flow, making it a poignant metaphor for moving forward with grace and detachment.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in early 20th-century Britain or America, rooted in the imagery of rivers and bridges, symbols of time and passage in literature and folklore. An early use appears in a 1914 *The Times* article, describing old disputes as ‘water under the bridge’ to advocate for reconciliation. The idiom gained traction in the 1920s, reflecting post-World War I desires for healing, as seen in Virginia Woolf’s *Mrs. Dalloway* (1925), which explores letting go of past traumas. Its use grew in American English during the Great Depression, when moving on from hardship was a cultural theme, as noted in John Steinbeck’s *The Grapes of Wrath* (1939). The phrase’s adoption was amplified in the mid-20th century through self-help literature and diplomacy, notably in post-World War II peace talks, where forgiveness was key. Its spread to Commonwealth English and global contexts came through British and American media, and its poetic imagery, evoking a river’s unstoppable flow, and its applicability to closure ensured its widespread use across English-speaking cultures, from family reconciliations to international treaties.
- Variants
-
- Like water under the bridge
- Water under the bridge
- Like water passed under the bridge
- Gone like water under the bridge
- Examples
-
- Our argument is like water under the bridge—let’s move on as friends.
- Water under the bridge, the failed project no longer haunts the team.
- Like water passed under the bridge, she forgave his old mistakes.
- Gone like water under the bridge, their rivalry faded with time.
- The scandal is like water under the bridge, no longer affecting his career.
- Like water under the bridge, we let go of the old grudges at the reunion.
|