the mill cannot grind with water that is past
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Do not cry over spilt milk; what has already happened cannot be changed or repaired.
Register: dated
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “the mill cannot grind with water that is past” mean?
Do not cry over spilt milk; what has already happened cannot be changed or repaired.
Is “the mill cannot grind with water that is past” formal or informal?
the mill cannot grind with water that is past is generally dated.