James Baquet

    Today’s proverb, “You can’t unring a bell,” means that once something has been said or done, it cannot be undone. This is especially true of unkind words said in haste, or unkind actions. Victims might forgive, but they can’t really forget.

    The expression seems to have shown up first in reference to evidence in a court trial. Sometimes evidence is presented that shouldn’t be, and judges instruct jury members to “disregard it.” However, it has been observed that forgetting evidence that has once been accepted is like unringing that proverbial bell.

    Let’s see the expression used in a dialogue.

    James sees his student, a boy named Kyle, walking across campus.

    James: Hey, Kyle. What’s up?

    Kyle: Oh, man. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. As mistakes go, this one was a doozy!

    James: What did you do?

    Kyle: Well, you know Trent?

    James: Isn’t he the new kid on the block?

    Kyle: Exactly. Well, we kind of got off on the wrong foot.

    James: Uh-oh. What happened?

    Kyle: So, he has this girlfriend, right? And, uh, I kind of went out with her before, and…

    James: He found out.

    Kyle: Yeah, someone let the cat out of the bag. So I know I should have bit my tongue, but he said something, and I said something, and, well…

    James: And now you can’t unring that bell.

    Kyle: Exactly. He kind of has a chip on his shoulder about it, but I’m hoping he’ll get over it.

    James: No use crying over spilt milk, huh?

    Kyle: That’s what I think. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones.

    James: I hope it all works out.

    Kyle: Thanks.

    Notes on the dialogue:

    — If it’s not one thing, it’s another: A proverbial expression meaning something will always be going wrong.

    — A doozy: An outstanding example, whether positive or negative; here a really bad mistake.

    — The new kid on the block: The newest member of a group or clique.

    — To get off on the wrong foot: To start out a relationship (or a task) badly.

    — To let the cat out of the bag: To tell someone else’s secret.

    — To bite one’s tongue: To stop oneself from saying something (usually something that will cause trouble).

    — To have a chip on one’s shoulder: To be angry about something; and especially, to be willing to fight about it.

    — To get over something: To move beyond something that’s bothering one.

    — To cry over spilt milk: To complain about something from the past that can’t be changed.

    — To let bygones be bygones: To forget about disagreements regarding something in the past.

    — To work out: To turn out well in the end.