Explaining "Let bygones be bygones"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 01/10/2024, 17:37

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase "Let bygones be bygones" means to forget past offenses or grievances and move on without holding a grudge.

Tone

The tone of this phrase is forgiving and conciliatory, encouraging people to overlook past issues for the sake of reconciliation or moving forward.

Origin

The phrase dates back to the late 16th century and comes from the idea that past events should be left in the past ('bygones" meaning things that have gone by).

Examples of usage

After their argument, they decided to let bygones be bygones and patched up their friendship.
In order to move on, we need to let bygones be bygones and focus on the future.