les jeux sont faits

idiom

Meaning

Things have reached an irreversible point; you cannot go back now that you have done something.

Origin

Borrowed from French les jeux sont faits (literally “the games are made”). Earliest use found in James Joyce (1882–1941) in the 1920s.

Examples

SIMPLE

I sent the email, so les jeux sont faits.

CONTEXTUAL

Once you sign the contract and hand it over, les jeux sont faits and you cannot change the terms.

COMPLEX

With the final ballot cast and the polls now closed, les jeux sont faits for the candidates awaiting the election results.

Anchors to