forgive and forget

/fərˈɡɪv ænd fərˈɡɛt/
phrase★Intermediate
◆ What It Really Means
The act of fully releasing past grievances to restore harmony in a relationship.
Literal Meaning
To pardon someone and then intentionally stop remembering their wrongdoing.
Literal Breakdown
forgiveto pardon or excuse someone for a mistake+andin addition to+forgetto stop remembering something
◇ Mental Image
A mental picture of releasing a burden or wiping a slate clean, symbolizing a fresh start.
◈ When to Use
After a heated argument, a couple decides to forgive and forget to rebuild their relationship.
◉ Cultural Note
This phrase reflects the cultural value of reconciliation and the importance of letting go of past conflicts in many societies.
informal

To pardon someone for their mistakes and choose not to remember or hold them against the person.

True friendship means forgiving and forgetting when someone hurts you.

Real friendship involves letting go of past hurts.

💡

This phrase emphasizes reconciliation and moving forward without resentment.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

let bygones be bygonesphrase
to stop thinking about past disagreements

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use this phrase when encouraging someone to move past conflicts or mistakes.

⚡Gold Rule

Reconciliation

This phrase is about choosing peace over resentment, but it requires genuine effort from both parties.

📖Word Origin

The phrase combines 'forgive' (from Old English 'forgiefan') and 'forget' (from Old English 'forgietan'), emphasizing the dual action of pardoning and releasing past wrongs.

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is often used in personal relationships to encourage reconciliation. It can also be used metaphorically in broader contexts, such as politics or international relations.

Word Breakdown

forgive
to pardon someone for wrongdoing
root
+
and
conjunction indicating two related actions
root
+
forget
to stop remembering something
root
English Dictionary