To forgive and forget 🕊️✒️💨

Meaning

To completely pardon someone for a past offense and then never think about it again.

Origin

This phrase paints a vivid picture of moving on, suggesting a complete release from the burden of a past wrong. While its exact spoken origin is lost to time, the sentiment is ancient. In many cultures and religions, forgiveness is seen as a divine act, a turning of the other cheek, a letting go of vengeance. The addition of 'and forget' elevates this from mere pardoning to a total erasure of the offense, as if it never happened. It’s an aspirational ideal, a challenge to rise above hurt and achieve a state of untroubled peace.

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To forgive and forget represented with emoji🕊️✒️💨

This playful arrangement of a dove, a pen, and a gust of wind functions as a lovely visualization of letting go. It invites a dialogue on the ease with which we might wish to pardon and move past past grievances, underscoring the ephemeral nature of memory and the peace that can be found in a swift release.

Examples

  • After their big argument, they decided to forgive and forget.
  • She told him it was time to forgive and forget the past so they could move forward.
  • The dragon, after being tickled by a knight's feather, decided to forgive and forget the incident with the burnt toast.
  • The wise old owl advised the squirrels to forgive and forget their nut-related disputes, lest winter catch them unprepared.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to truly forgive and forget after a betrayal?

While the ideal of completely forgiving and forgetting is aspirational, many find it more realistic to forgive without forgetting. True forgiveness often means choosing to let go of resentment and anger, but the memory of the event can serve as a valuable lesson for the future.

What's the opposite of the phrase 'to forgive and forget'?

The opposite of to 'forgive and forget' would be to 'resent and remember' or 'hold a grudge,' signifying a refusal to pardon and a conscious retention of past grievances.

Does 'to forgive and forget' mean the offense never happened?

No, the phrase 'to forgive and forget' implies a conscious decision to pardon the offense and move past dwelling on it, rather than an actual erasure of the memory or the event itself having never occurred.

Is 'to forgive and forget' considered a proverb or an idiom?

The phrase 'to forgive and forget' functions more as an idiomatic expression, representing a complete release from past grievances. While it conveys a sentiment common in proverbs, its specific phrasing isn't typically classified as a formal proverb.

Similar to "to forgive and forget"

Let bygones be bygones
Both phrases are about moving past past offenses, but 'let bygones be bygones' carries a more informal, even weary, tone, suggesting a practical decision to stop dwelling rather than a deep moral absolution
Turn the other cheek
Both advocate for not retaliating after being wronged, but 'turn the other cheek' stems from a religious, pacifist stance, emphasizing passive endurance and humility, whereas 'forgive and forget' is more about a complete closure of personal grievance
Draw a line in the sand
Both signal a point of no return regarding a transgression, but 'draw a line in the sand' is about setting a boundary for *future* behavior and resistance, implying a refusal to further tolerate wrongdoing, rather than completely burying the past

Opposite of "to forgive and forget"

Hold a grudge
This argues for the opposite by actively choosing to remember and nurse past hurts, suggesting that dwelling on offenses is a valid—perhaps even necessary—response, directly contradicting the 'forget' part of the original idiom
Never forget
This phrase serves as a solemn warning or a pledge to remember, often in the context of historical atrocities or severe personal betrayals, arguing that some actions are too significant to be pardoned or erased from memory, thereby opposing the very essence of 'forgive and forget'
Keep score
This captures the spirit of meticulous accounting for every slight, where no offense is too small to be recorded, starkly contrasting with the idea of comprehensive pardoning and erasure that 'forgive and forget' embodies

Related to "to forgive and forget"

Bury the hatchet
This phrase shares the goal of ending conflict and achieving peace, much like 'forgive and forget,' but it specifically focuses on the ceremonial cessation of hostility, often between groups
Clear the air
This idiom speaks to resolving misunderstandings and open communication after a dispute, serving as a prerequisite or a parallel action to the deeper emotional resolution implied by 'forgive and forget'
Move on
Often uttered as advice, 'move on' echoes the sentiment of leaving the past behind, but it's a broader call to action that encompasses personal growth and future focus, rather than specifically addressing the act of pardoning and erasing memory
Let it go
Similar to 'forgive and forget,' this phrase urges the relinquishing of emotional burdens, but it's a more generalized suggestion to release negativity without necessarily implying a formal pardon or complete obliteration of the memory