“What’s done is done” means that you cannot change what has already happened. People say it when they want to stop dwelling on a mistake or disappointment and work out what to do next. It can be reassuring, though the same words can sound dismissive if someone is still upset.
What Does “What’s Done Is Done” Mean?
The past event is fixed; your response to it is not. You may regret selling a house, missing a train, or saying something hurtful. The saying asks you to accept that the event happened, rather than keep wishing it had not.
It does not mean that there is nothing left to put right. “What’s done is done, so let’s fix what we can” acknowledges a mistake and leaves room for an apology, a repair, or a different decision next time.
Who Says It in Macbeth?
Lady Macbeth speaks the line to her husband in Macbeth, Act 3, scene 2, after the murder of King Duncan:
“Things without all remedy
Should be without regard. What’s done is done.”
She is telling Macbeth to stop brooding over an act they cannot reverse. In ordinary conversation the saying can offer comfort; in the play, it is also an attempt to push aside guilt. Shakespeare’s use is famous, but quoting the line does not establish that he invented the underlying proverb.
Examples in a Sentence
- “I regret selling the house, but what’s done is done.” The speaker accepts a decision that cannot simply be taken back.
- “We missed the train. What’s done is done; let’s look for the next one.” Attention shifts from the mistake to the next step.
- “The mistake is made; what’s done is done, so let’s fix what we can.” Acceptance is followed by action.
Questions About the Wording
Is “what’s done cannot be undone” the same line?
It expresses a similar thought, but it is a different line in the play. Lady Macbeth says “What’s done cannot be undone” in Act 5, scene 1, during her sleepwalking scene. Her guilt persists despite her earlier advice to Macbeth.
Is it rude to say “what’s done is done”?
It can be, especially if you caused the problem and use it to end the discussion. “I’m sorry I missed it. What can I do to help now?” takes responsibility more clearly. With a friend who is ready to move on, the proverb may sound kind and practical.
Similar Proverbs
- It’s no use crying over spilt milk also discourages dwelling on something that cannot be reversed.
- Let bygones be bygones is more specifically an invitation to stop holding on to past disagreements.
- What’s done cannot be undone stresses that a completed action cannot be taken back.
- There’s no point chasing after the wind can express the futility of trying to recover what is beyond reach.
Browse our smart thoughts and proverbs and their meanings for related sayings.
Text references: Folger Shakespeare Library, Act 3 and Act 5; Cambridge Dictionary.
