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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]
Synonyms

Let bygones be bygones

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


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]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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 between you and me.

From Tom Brown at Oxford by Thomas Hughes

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

But he did encourage Diaz to "let bygones be bygones".

From BBC Mar. 16, 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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