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Showing results for what's done is done. Search instead for what-s-done-is-done.

what's done is done

Idioms  
  1. There is no changing something; it's finished or final. For example, I forgot to include my dividend income in my tax return but what's done is done—I've already mailed the form. This expression uses done in the sense of “ended” or “settled,” a usage dating from the first half of the 1400s.


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.

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"It's pointless me whinging about the red card, what's done is done."

From BBC Feb. 13, 2021

I know I should have prepared her better, but what's done is done and we need to move forward.

From Washington Post Feb. 7, 2021

“I already voted. I voted early. There’s nothing I can do to influence what’s gonna happen, what’s done is done, at least as far as my input in this goes,” she said.

From Slate Nov. 2, 2020

“I was trying to get him to look forward because if you don’t like the result of a shot, what’s done is done, there’s nothing you can do about it,” Shawn Spieth said.

From New York Times Jun. 17, 2015

“Well, you shan’t blame me for what’s happened. I warned you. However, what’s done is done and there’s no sense complaining. No use in it at all.”

From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander

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