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What does “water under the bridge” mean?
Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.
C1
A past problem or disagreement now considered finished and not worth worrying about
“We argued about it years ago, but it's water under the bridge now.”
From the C1 lesson Back in the Day (nostalgia and change).
Quick check
What does “water under the bridge” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“water under the bridge” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 4 (Communication, Decisions and Habits).
See the C1 lesson pack
See the C1 lesson pack
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Related phrases
- a bygone eraa period of time in the past, especially one that feels very different from now
- things aren't what they used to besaid when something has declined or changed for the worse
- look back fondly onto remember something from the past with warmth and affection
- in hindsightlooking back at a past event with the knowledge you have now
- a walk down memory lanean experience of looking at or remembering things from your past
- the good old daysa period in the past remembered as better or simpler than the present, often with some exaggeration
- reminisce aboutto talk or think about happy memories from the past
- nostalgic forfeeling a sentimental longing for something from the past
- back in the dayat some earlier time in the past, often used casually to introduce a memory