English · Emotions & Feelings
cry over spilt milk
/kraɪ ˈəʊ.və spɪlt mɪlk/
[/kraɪ ˈəʊ.və spɪlt mɪlk/]
regret the unchangeable
Intermediatephrase
Definition
To waste time being upset about something bad that has already happened and cannot be changed.
Example
Yes, we lost the contract, but there's no use crying over spilt milk; let's find new clients.
Yes, we lost the contract, but there's no use crying over spilt milk; let's find new clients.
Etymology
A proverb recorded since the 17th century, from the futility of mourning milk already spilled.
How & Where It’s Used
Common for advising someone to move past an irreversible mishap.