to let bygones be bygones

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentences?

“You never liked Harry, did you?” he said softly. “After the way he behaved to you.-“Simeon cackled. He said: “Al, but bygones must be bygones. That’s the spirit for Christmas, isn’t it, Lydia?” (A. Christie)

I want him to come back, if he’ll do that we’ll let bygones be bygones. After all, we’ve been married for seventeen years.”

to let bygones be bygones = to forget what happened in the past

V.

[emsr2d2]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentences?

“You never liked Harry, did you?” he said softly. “After the way he behaved to you.-“Simeon cackled. He said: “Al, but bygones must be bygones. That’s the spirit for Christmas, isn’t it, Lydia?” (A. Christie)

I want him to come back, if he’ll do that we’ll let bygones be bygones. After all, we’ve been married for seventeen years.”

to let bygones be bygones = to forget what happened in the past

V.

It's not necessarily to forget things that happened in the past, but it's certainly to allow things that happened in the past to remain in the past. Don't keep bringing them up in the present day.

[vil]

Hi emsr2d,

I see what you mean.

Thank you for your repair of my interpretation.

V.