cry over spilt milk

Cultural  

1. To dwell pointlessly on past misfortunes: “I know you wish that you'd handled the project more efficiently, but there's no use crying over spilt milk.”

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Example Sentences

My motto in investing has always been cry over spilt milk, for analyzing errors is how you learn almost everything.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

"I'm not going to cry over spilt milk, it's over now."

From BBC • Dec. 21, 2024

You know the saying "don't cry over spilt milk?"

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2015

“Don’t cry over spilt milk, honey,” says Mom.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

But the mishap had happened, and according to the old proverb it was of no use to cry over spilt milk.

From In the King's Name The Cruise of the "Kestrel" by Fenn, George Manville