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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

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

From Reuters • Oct. 25, 2023

Luis and Davonte agree to let bygones be bygones, especially since their go-to allies have both died.

From Washington Post • Sep. 9, 2022

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

They didn’t know how to account for his strange doings but, to their credit, they were willing to let bygones be bygones.

From "Bunnicula" by Deborah Howe and James Howe

Related Words

• absolve
• condone
• excuse
• forget