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Mr. Tom Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Water under the bridge

Hi

Do you find the use of the phrase "water under the bridge" correct and natural here? "B" is talking about his wife who he dumped and left the city.
A) Why didn't you try to reconcile with her then?

B) Because by that time too much water had passed under the bridge, too much respect had been lost.

Thanks,

Tom

  

Top answer

Yes, it sounds eligible. Mr. Tom Because , by that time , too much water had passed under the bridge, too much respect had been lost.

— Fandorin

  • Yes, it sounds eligible.
  • Mr.
  • Tom Because , by that time , too much water had passed under the bridge, too much respect had been lost.
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6 Answers
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Yes, it sounds eligible.
Mr. Tom Because, by that time, too much water had passed under the bridge, too much respect had been lost.
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...but doesn't "water under the bridge" mean "the issue is settled"? I think here it means "it was too late by that time"?

Tom
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Mr. Tom doesn't "water under the bridge" mean "the issue is settled"?
It means that it's too late to do anything about whatever the issue is. Whatever has happened is over and done with. You just have to live with the situation.

Similar expressions:
water over the dam
there's no use crying over spilled milk
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Mr. Tom...but doesn't "water under the bridge" mean "the issue is settled"? I think here it means "it was too late by that time"?

No, it doesn't mean that at all. It's not settled - it's just past.

"Water under the bridge" means an event is in the past and nothing can be done about it now.

If you and I have an
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Many thanks!

So, could the speaker could also say? (I mean the bold part)

Too much water had passed over the dam. Too much respect...

Tom
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Mr. TomA) Why didn't you try to reconcile with her then?

B) Because by that time too much water had passed under the bridge, too much respect had been lost.
Hi Tom
I'd say that might strike some as odd simply because you've added the word "passed" to a very fixed sort of idiom, and also used it in a somewhat unconventional way ("too mu
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