it'll all come out in the wash
1. No permanent or lasting effects will occur as a result; things will normalize over time. I wouldn't worry too much about processing the invoice incorrectly; I'm sure it'll all come out in the wash. A: "Do you think Mark hates me after what I said at the party?" B: "Nah, it'll all come out in the wash." Don't worry about paying me back for dinner. It'll all come out in the wash eventually.
2. A lie or other secret will be uncovered eventually. Whatever the mayor is trying to cover up, it'll all come out in the wash. You can only hide an affair for long. Stuff like that, it'll all come out in the wash sooner or later. It'll all come out in the wash once this goes to court, so then we'll find out what really happened.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
come out in the wash, it will
A problem will be solved or difficulties will disappear. For example, Don't worry about the fight you got into-it'll all come out in the wash. Cervantes had this metaphoric use of laundry for cleaning up a mess or difficulty in Don Quixote ( Todo saldrá en la colada) and it has been repeated ever since. [Early 1600s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.