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Glite Dictionary
to build a bridge and get over it

to build a bridge and get over it

9.4
Tell someone to stop worrying about a problem and move on
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : superarlo
  • If you made a mistake, just build a bridge and get over it instead of beating yourself up.

Examples

  • Your boss criticised your work; now it's time to build a bridge and get over it.

  • Why can't you just build a bridge and get over it?

  • After their disagreement, his friends told him to build a bridge and get over it.

  • You need to build a bridge and get over it!

  • After their disagreement, his friends told him to build a bridge and get over it and move forward.

  • If you made a mistake, just build a bridge and get over it to avoid dwelling on the past.

  • Your boss criticized your work; now you should build a bridge and get over it and focus on improvement.

Synonyms

to clear the air
vsto build a bridge and get over it
  • Informal
24 4.1

Help people stop feeling angry or worried by talking about the problem

focuses on telling someone to stop dwelling rather than discussing issues
to bury the hatchet
vsto build a bridge and get over it
  • Informal
12 3.7

Make peace with someone after an argument

asks someone to stop dwelling instead of only making peace
to put our differences behind us
vsto build a bridge and get over it
  • Informal
1 5.1

Stop arguing and agree to work together

is a direct instruction to stop dwelling rather than mutual agreement

Antonyms

to dwell on
53 5.2

To think or talk a lot about something upsetting

How Dismissive

to care a hang
  • Archaic
1 9.9
Crimea river
  • Informal
9.9
to build a bridge and get over it
  • Informal
9.4

Surface Forms

build a bridge and get over it infinitive

Morphology

build + a + bridge + and + get + over + it

The phrase uses a transparent physical metaphor — construct a bridge and cross it — so learners who know 'build', 'bridge', 'get' and 'over' can plausibly infer a sense of overcoming or moving past an obstacle. However, the specific pragmatic force 'stop dwelling on a disagreement/problem' is a conventionalized usage (especially the idiomatic 'get over it') and not fully predictable from the parts, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Build a bridge and get over it paints a simple picture: you first build a bridge to cross a gap or problem, then get over it by walking across and leaving the trouble behind. So it means 'move on' and stop worrying about something.