Letting things go
Idioms, Stage 3chunk 3 of 22Getting on with people
Forgiving or overlooking after a falling-out, and the no-hard-feelings line.
- nakatta koto ni surupretend it never happenedliterally “make it a thing that wasn't”
- oome ni mirulet it slide, go easy on someoneliterally “look at it by a generous measure”
- mizu ni nagasuforgive and forgetliterally “wash it away in the water”
- uramikko nashino hard feelings, whoever winsliterally “no grudging each other”
Mix-ups nakatta koto ni suru (pretend it never happened), oome ni miru (let it slide) and mizu ni nagasu (forgive and forget) are near-synonyms; mizu ni nagasu vs mizu o sasu (spoil the mood) share mizu.
nakatta koto ni suru
polite nakatta koto ni shimasu
“make it a thing that wasn't”
pretend it never happened
After an awkward moment, a confession or a slip: ima no, nakatta koto ni shite (forget I said that); also for burying a mistake or a deal. It erases rather than forgives, unlike mizu ni nagasu.
ima no, nakatta koto ni shite.
Forget I said that.
今の、なかったことにして。
ima no wa, nakatta koto ni shite kudasai.
Please forget I said that.
今のは、なかったことにしてください。
Written なかったことにするHeard 61× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside mizu ni nagasu, uramikko nashi, ne ni motsuMain list suru (Stage 1), -nai (Stage 1), -katta / -datta (Stage 1), koto (Stage 3)
oome ni miru
polite oome ni mimasu
“look at it by a generous measure”
let it slide, go easy on someone
In English: cut someone some slack
Asking for or granting leniency over a small offence, usually kondo dake oome ni mite (just this once). A boss, parent or teacher does it; mizu ni nagasu is forgiving after a real fight.
kondo dake, oome ni mite yo.
Just this once, let it slide.
今度だけ、大目に見てよ。
kondo dake, oome ni mite kudasai.
Just this once, please let it slide.
今度だけ、大目に見てください。
Written 大目に見る · おおめにみるHeard 68× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside amaku miru, kangae ga amaiMain list miru (Stage 2), -te (Stage 2), kondo (Stage 3)
mizu ni nagasu
polite mizu ni nagashimasu
“wash it away in the water”
forgive and forget
In English: let bygones be bygones
Making up after a fight or a grudge, usually as mizu ni nagasou (let's put it behind us). Different from nakatta koto ni suru, which pretends it never happened rather than forgiving it. Not mizu o nagasu (flush, run the water) or mizu o sasu (put a damper on).
mou mukashi no koto da shi, mizu ni nagasou yo.
It's all in the past, let's put it behind us.
もう昔のことだし、水に流そうよ。
mou mukashi no koto desu shi, mizu ni nagashimashou.
It's all in the past, let's put it behind us.
もう昔のことですし、水に流しましょう。
Written 水に流す · みずにながすHeard 67× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside nakatta koto ni suru, uramikko nashi, ne ni motsuMain list -ou / -you (Stage 4)
uramikko nashi
polite uramikko nashi desu
“no grudging each other”
no hard feelings, whoever wins
In English: no hard feelings
Said before janken, a draw, a bet or a vote so the loser won't sulk: uramikko nashi ne. Also after the result, to keep things friendly.
janken de kimeyou. uramikko nashi ne.
Let's settle it with rock-paper-scissors. No hard feelings.
じゃんけんで決めよう。恨みっこなしね。
dou natte mo, uramikko nashi desu yo.
Whatever happens, no hard feelings.
どうなっても、恨みっこなしですよ。
Written 恨みっこなし · うらみっこなしHeard 7× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside nakatta koto ni suru, mizu ni nagasu, ne ni motsuMain list kimeru (Stage 3), -ou / -you (Stage 4), ne (Stage 1)