2017-10-06 Don’t cry over spilt milk – We Say, You Say

The Experiment is a collection of short series that are a little different to our usual programmes – but still help you improve your English.

Our first series, We Say – You Say, shows how YOUR language can help you remember English expressions.

We Say – You Say

We say…

‘Don’t cry over spilt milk’ to mean don’t waste your time worrying or getting upset about small mistakes or accidents: they cannot be changed.

Examples:

I know you’re angry about missing your bus but don’t cry over spilt milk; another one will be along soon.

John’s decision to resign was disappointing, but it’s no use crying over spilt milk – let’s concentrate on finding someone to replace him.

Sian
We say ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’ to mean don’t waste your time worrying or getting upset about small mistakes or accidents: they cannot be changed.

Examples
I know you’re angry about missing your bus but don’t cry over spilt milk; another one will be along soon.

John’s decision to resign was disappointing, but it’s no use crying over spilt milk – let’s concentrate on finding someone to replace him.

You say…

Berza
In English you say ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’. In Turkish we say Üzülme, incir çekirdeğini bile doldurmaz – which means it is as small as a seed from a fig.

Khalid
In English you say ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’. In Arabic we say لا تفكر في المفقود حتى لا تفقد الموجودwhich means, there is no point really thinking about things that have gone wrong or you lost them, it’s better to focus on the future, opportunities and have a positive energy looking ahead rather than looking backwards.

Jiaying
In English you say ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’. In Chinese we say 覆水难收 which means the water you spilt is impossible to get back.

Sian
So, there are a few examples of ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’ in other languages, what do you say?

You say…

In Turkish – Üzülme, incir çekirdeğini bile doldurmaz – which means it is as small as a seed from a fig.

In Arabic – لا تفكر في المفقود حتى لا تفقد الموجودwhich means, there is no point really thinking about things that have gone wrong or you lost them, it’s better to focus on the future, opportunities and have a positive energy looking ahead rather than looking backwards.

In Chinese – 覆水难收 which means the water you spilt is impossible to get back.