no use crying over spilled milk
Meaning
Don’t waste time being upset about something that already happened and can’t be changed; focus on what to do next.
Origin
Recorded from at least the 17th century; it uses the everyday image of spilled milk—once spilled, it can’t be recovered—to argue against regretting irreversible mistakes.
Notes
Common advice/comfort meaning “move on.” It can sound a bit blunt if the listener is very upset, so tone matters.
Examples
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I know you missed the train, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk—let’s catch the next one.
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It’s no use crying over spilled milk; we can fix the mistake and move on.
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She reminded him that there’s no use crying over spilled milk after the deal fell through.
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No use crying over spilled milk—what matters is what we do from here.
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I felt terrible about deleting the file, but it was no use crying over spilled milk, so I started rebuilding it.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Often appears as “There’s no use crying over spilled milk” or “It’s no use crying over spilled milk.” Also common as an imperative: “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” Usually fixed wording; “spilt” (UK) also occurs.
Synonyms
- don’t cry over spilled milk
- what’s done is done
- no point dwelling on it
- let bygones be bygones
Antonyms
- make the most of it
- look on the bright side