Cry over spilled milk
English Idiom
Meaning: When you cry over spilled milk, you're upset about something that has already happened and cannot be changed. It's a way of expressing that it's pointless to worry or be sad about past mistakes or mishaps.
Origin: The idiom 'cry over spilled milk' dates back to the 17th century. It was first recorded in a book called 'Proverbs' by James Howell in 1659. The phrase was used to illustrate the futility of lamenting over something that cannot be undone, much like lamenting over milk that has already been spilled.
Examples
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Even though the presentation didn’t go as planned, there’s no use crying over spilled milk. We should focus on preparing better for next time.
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After the accident, she realized that crying over spilled milk wouldn't bring her car back. She decided to look for a new one instead.
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The team lost the match, but the coach told them not to cry over spilled milk and to train harder for the next game.
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He missed the deadline for the project, but crying over spilled milk won’t help. He needs to talk to his boss and find a solution.
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She got a bad grade on the test, but instead of crying over spilled milk, she started studying more diligently for the next one.
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When the investment failed, he understood that crying over spilled milk wouldn't recover the lost money. He started planning his next move.
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Her vacation was ruined by bad weather, but instead of crying over spilled milk, she enjoyed indoor activities and made the best of it.
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They missed their flight, but there was no point in crying over spilled milk. They rebooked and explored the airport shops.
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After burning dinner, he didn’t cry over spilled milk. He ordered takeout and laughed about it with his family.
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The software crashed before he saved his work, but crying over spilled milk wouldn’t bring it back. He started over and saved frequently.