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• Let bygones be bygones
  Let bygones be bygones

  Let past offenses and problems stay in the past; don't let them taint the present.
• let bygones be bygones
  let bygones be bygones

  What's done is done; don't worry about the past, especially past errors or grievances. For example, Bill and Tom shook hands and agreed to let bygones be bygones. [First half of 1600s]

Let bygones be bygones

Cultural  

1. Let past offenses and problems stay in the past; don't let them taint the present.

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let bygones be bygones Idioms  

1. What's done is done; don't worry about the past, especially past errors or grievances. For example, Bill and Tom shook hands and agreed to let bygones be bygones. [First half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Let bygones be bygones let bygones be bygones

Let bygones be bygones, and give a worthy candidate a long-overdue salute.

From New York Times ● Dec. 6, 2014

Alkaios sings in Greek, "I paid all my dues," concluding: "Let bygones be bygones, let's start over again."

From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2010

China and Rio Tinto Let bygones be bygones?

From Economist ● Mar. 19, 2010

Let bygones be bygones as far as Britain and India are concerned.

From Time Magazine Archive

Let bygones be bygones is the rule of a Christian, and of a wise man too, Amyas.

From Westward Ho!, or, the voyages and adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the county of Devon, in the reign of her most glorious majesty Queen Elizabeth by Charles Kingsley

That 36 in Adelaide and 78 in Leeds serve to highlight the temperament of players who can let bygones be bygones and remember only the good times.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2024

In a video, he said the army was ready for negotiations, but "we will not let bygones be bygones."

From Reuters ● Oct. 25, 2023

In a polite world, the trio would have invited her to join their celebration and let bygones be bygones.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2022

If Jim has taken your boyfriend’s reproof seriously, you could decide to let bygones be bygones, but if his appalling behavior resumes, the respectful thing to do is to let your friend know.

From New York Times ● Apr. 19, 2022

‘You leave him, and then come back to work, and we’ll let bygones be bygones.’

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

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Related Words

• absolve
• condone
• excuse
• forget

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