Advertisement

Advertisement

what's done is done

  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.



Discover More

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.

What’s done is done, and the season autopsy can wait until the summer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"It's not something he's proud of in any way at all, but you know, what's done is done, we have the rehabilitation of offenders' act - we have Christian forgiveness."

Read more on BBC

“What’s done is done, we believe,” she said.

Read more on Salon

What’s done is done, of course, but there may be a larger benefit in your future.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She said: “I found out from a lot of my friends that it happened to them too. I’m a bit annoyed, but what’s done is done.”

Read more on BBC

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


what's cookingwhat's eating you