spilt milk
/ˈspɪlt ˌmɪlk/
noun phrase
Origin
English
spill + milk — accidental loss of a liquid and the domestic staple
Overview
Meaning Now
- Used in the context of irrevocable mistakes or misfortunes that cannot be rectified by regret or worry.
Literal older meaning
Milk that has been accidentally poured out or spilled.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Middle English → Modern English
Earliest form
It is no boot to weep for spilt milk
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The phrase originates from the folk wisdom that once milk is spilled on the ground, it is contaminated or absorbed and cannot be recovered; therefore, crying over it is a futile exercise in managing a loss that has already occurred.
Evolution
- Old English
spillan + meoluc
“destroy/pour out + cow's milk”
Original verb 'spillan' meant to destroy or perish.
- 17th century
spilt milk
“a waste of resources”
First recorded in proverb form.
Connections
Word parts
spilt
root
past participle of spill
milk
root
white nutrient-rich liquid produced by mammals
Related across languages
German
verschüttete Milch
spilled milk
Dutch
gemorste melk
spilled milk
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.