What does ‘don't cry over spilt milk’ mean?
To “don't cry over spilt milk” means to don't lament what can't be undone. Brewer's records this as an old English proverb, familiar from the 17th century.
Origin
- Brewer's records this as an old English proverb, familiar from the 17th century.
How to use it
- Standard consolation after a small loss.
- Example: The meeting's over — don't cry over spilt milk.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.