cry over spilt milk
Say it: cry over spilt MILK /ˌkraɪ ˌəʊvə ˌspɪlt ˈmɪlk/ · idiom
What “cry over spilt milk” means
Stay upset about something that cannot be changed.
More precisely: To waste time being upset about something that can't be changed.
Example: “The deal is gone; no point crying over spilt milk.”
When to use it
When encouraging someone to move on after an irreversible mistake. Informal, but it can sound dismissive if they're very upset.
Similar words
dwell on the past, fret uselessly
Quick check
A vase broke yesterday and cannot be repaired, but you keep wishing it hadn't happened. Which phrase fits?
cry over spilt milk or learn from your mistakes?
Show the answer
cry over spilt milk
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