Ser agua pasada

that's all in the past; **that's all in the past**; **it's water under the bridge**; **it's behind us**; **it's over now**

Ser agua pasada means to belong to the past, to be over and done with or to no longer matter.

The expression encourages people to leave past events behind and move on.

It is often used after arguments, mistakes or difficult experiences.

• an argument has been resolved
• a past mistake has been forgiven
• someone wants to move on
• an unpleasant experience is over
• discussing events that no longer affect the present

The metaphor comes from flowing water.

Water that has already passed downstream cannot return.

Likewise, past events cannot be changed.

Spanish has used this image for centuries to represent the irreversible passage of time.

The expression often appears after reconciliation.

For example:

Lo importante es que ya es agua pasada.

The speaker is inviting others to stop dwelling on the past and focus on the present.

It usually carries a positive, conciliatory tone.

Spanish and English independently developed remarkably similar metaphors based on flowing water.

Spanish says:

Es agua pasada.

English says:

It's water under the bridge.

Both express exactly the same idea:

once the water has flowed away, it cannot be recovered, and neither can the past.

This expression has an excellent English equivalent.

Rather than translating it literally, simply use:

• It's water under the bridge.

or

• That's all in the past.

Both convey the same idea of leaving the past behind.