water over the dam

Idioms  

1. Also, water under the bridge. Something that is over and done with, especially an unfortunate occurrence. For example, Last year's problems with delivery are water over the dam, or Never mind that old quarrel; that's water under the bridge. These metaphoric phrases allude to water that has flowed over a spillway or under a bridge and thus is gone forever. The first term was first recorded in 1797; the variant dates from the late 1800s.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

water over the dam

The feared uncontrolled releases of water over the dam did not occur, and authorities allowed residents to return home within days.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 1, 2017

"It's been 11 years, and a lot of water over the dam," he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2015

“But to me, it’s kind of like water over the dam — it’s done.”

From Washington Post ● May 12, 2013

Eddie said some things he shouldn’t have, but that’s water over the dam.

From The New Yorker ● Sep. 12, 2011

Had the bottom been hard, it would have been shallow; but as the bottom was soft and muddy, the rush of the water over the dam in the winter-floods had here made a great hollow.

From Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood by George MacDonald