ProverbWisdom
Dutch origin
Dutch originGedane zaken nemen geen keer
Meaning: What is done cannot be undone.
Literally: Done things don't turn back
Example: “Je hebt het al verstuurd; gedane zaken nemen geen keer.” — You've already sent it: what's done is done.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 4 more languages
English: Don't cry over spilled milk
French: Ce qui est fait est fait (literally: What is done is done)
Spanish: A lo hecho, pecho (literally: To what is done, chest)
Japanese: 覆水盆に返らず (Fukusui bon ni kaerazu) (literally: Spilled water doesn't return to the basin)
German: Geschehen ist geschehen (literally: What has happened has happened)
Italian: Cosa fatta capo ha (literally: A thing done is done)
Polish: Co się stało, to się nie odstanie (literally: What has happened can't un-happen)
Chinese: 覆水难收 (Fù shuǐ nán shōu) (literally: Spilled water is hard to gather back)
Turkish: Geçmişe mazi, yenmişe kuzu derler (literally: The past is past, and what's eaten is called lamb)
Origin: Keer is an old word for a turn: things once done don't turn back.
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