cry over spilled milk

cry over spilled milk

To be upset over something that cannot be fixed, often something minor. Please calm down, you're just crying over spilled milk. We already submitted the report, so we can't fix it now. A: "Why is Hannah so upset?" B: "Oh, she's just crying over spilled milk. She just ripped her stockings—she'll be fine." We were pretty disappointed to have lost the championship game, but there's no use crying over spilled milk. We just have to train harder for next season!

See also: cry, milk, over, spill

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

cry over spilled milk

Fig. to be unhappy about what cannot be undone. (See also It's no use crying over spilled milk.) He is always crying over spilled milk. He cannot accept reality. It can't be helped. Don't cry over spilled milk.

See also: cry, milk, over, spill

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

cry over spilled milk

To regret in vain what cannot be undone or rectified.

See also: cry, milk, over, spill

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.