THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Water under the bridge
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Past events that are forgiven or no longer considered important.
Usage note: keep in mind
Water under the bridge describes a past issue that the speaker no longer wants to dwell on. Use it to signal that an old disagreement or mistake is no longer important to the current relationship. It does not prove that everyone involved feels the same.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- We had our disagreements, but that’s water under the bridge now.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
We had our disagreements, but that’s ________ now.
Show the answer
Water under the bridge — Past events that are forgiven or no longer considered important.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Water under the bridge” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
Past events that are forgiven or no longer considered important.
Compare: We had our disagreements, but that’s water under the bridge now.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
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More ways to understand and use it
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More examples in context
- We disagreed about the schedule last year, but that's water under the bridge now.
- I appreciate your apology. As far as I'm concerned, it's water under the bridge.
Check your understanding
If one person calls an argument water under the bridge, does that automatically settle how everyone else feels?
Check your answer
No. It expresses that person's view that the matter can be left in the past. Other people may still need a conversation.
Use it in your own words
Write one new situation where water under the bridge fits. Explain the situation in plain English first, then rewrite it using the expression. Check that the tone and meaning suit your audience.