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cry over spilled milk

to be upset about something that can't be undone

In Idioms & Sayings

In more detail

(idiom) to feel upset or regretful about something bad that has already happened and cannot be changed

Examples

• Don't cry over spilled milk—you can't change the past, so focus on what you can do now.

How to use cry over spilled milk

This idiom is used to discourage someone (or oneself) from wasting emotional energy on past events that cannot be changed or reversed. It typically appears as advice or a reminder to move forward rather than dwell on regrets. The tone is practical and somewhat dismissive of futile worry.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• no use crying over spilled milk
• don't cry over spilled milk
• crying over spilled milk won't help
• there's no point in crying over spilled milk

Synonyms

bemoan the inevitable · lament the past · dwell on irreversible losses · feel regret over what cannot be undone

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use this idiom in formal or serious emotional contexts where it may sound callous or trivializing; it is best reserved for lighter situations or matter-of-fact advice.

Nearby in Idioms & Sayings

on the fence, throw in the towel, go the extra mile, the last straw, a dime a dozen, barking up the wrong tree

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained