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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

water over the dam

“It’s water over the dam, under the bridge, however you want to refer to it. Let’s get over it and get on with our lives.”

From Washington Post ● Apr. 27, 2022

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

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

From The New Yorker ● Sep. 12, 2011

A review of the gage heights recorded by floods for several years past shows that the break occurs when the height of water over the dam crest reaches from 40 to 60 inches.

From The Passaic Flood of 1903 by Leighton, Marshall Ora