English Reference
Idiom idiom

forgive and forget


To absolve somebody completely for a past wrongdoing; to pardon with neither resentment nor a view to retribution.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

It is best to forgive and forget after a small argument.

CONTEXTUAL

After their long disagreement, they decided to forgive and forget so they could move forward as friends.

COMPLEX

True maturity requires the strength to forgive and forget the grievances of the past, allowing one to cultivate peace of mind.


Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    forget oneself

    to lose one's dignity, temper, or self-control.

  2. 02

    forget to take one's medication this morning

    To be annoyed or irritable, or to behave in an ill-mannered way, particularly in the morning.

  3. 03

    forget you

    A forceful expression of anger, dismissal, or contempt directed at someone.

  4. 04

    forgive but don't forget

    To pardon someone of wrongdoing while retaining awareness of their past behavior to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Last updated August 10, 2026