50 Idioms for Forgiveness (Meanings and Examples)

Idioms are fun and creative phrases where the words together mean something different from their literal definitions. People use them to make their speaking and writing much more colorful and interesting instead of using plain words. When we talk about letting go of anger, making peace, and starting over, idioms help paint a clear picture in our minds. In this guide, you will learn many interesting sayings related to showing grace and forgiving others.

In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean forgiving someone, letting go of past mistakes, or making peace. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.

Idioms for Forgiveness

1. Bury the hatchet

Definition: To stop fighting and make peace with someone after a disagreement.

Used in a Sentence: The two friends decided to bury the hatchet after arguing over a board game. / They shook hands at the end of the year to bury the hatchet once and for all.

Similar Expressions: Make peace / End the feud

2. Turn the other cheek

Definition: To choose not to fight back when someone treats you poorly or offends you.

Used in a Sentence: Instead of getting mad at the mean remark, she decided to turn the other cheek. / He practiced patience and turned the other cheek when his brother took his toy.

Similar Expressions: Stay calm / Ignore the insult

3. Wipe the slate clean

Definition: To forgive past mistakes and start a brand new relationship without hard feelings.

Used in a Sentence: The teacher told the class they would wipe the slate clean for the new semester. / After talking out their problem, they chose to wipe the slate clean and be friends again.

Similar Expressions: Start fresh / Clear the record

4. Let bygones be bygones

Definition: To agree to forget past arguments and move forward happily.

Used in a Sentence: They decided to let bygones be bygones and enjoy the party together. / It is better to let bygones be bygones than to hold onto a grudge all day.

Similar Expressions: Forget the past / Move onward

5. Clear the air

Definition: To talk openly about a problem so that bad feelings and tension disappear.

Used in a Sentence: The teammates sat down after practice to clear the air about the missed pass. / Talking honestly with her sister helped clear the air after their argument.

Similar Expressions: Resolve tension / Talk things out

6. Water under the bridge

Definition: Past trouble or mistakes that are no longer important because they happened long ago.

Used in a Sentence: Our old argument is just water under the bridge now that we are best friends. / He forgave his friend’s mistake, calling it water under the bridge.

Similar Expressions: Past history / Forgotten trouble

7. Let it go

Definition: To stop holding onto anger, frustration, or sadness about something that happened.

Used in a Sentence: She finally decided to let it go when her brother apologized for losing her book. / It takes a strong person to let it go instead of staying mad.

Similar Expressions: Drop the issue / Release anger

8. Extend an olive branch

Definition: To offer a peaceful gesture to show you want to end a fight.

Used in a Sentence: He extended an olive branch by inviting his neighbor over to play basketball. / She offered an olive branch by sharing her lunch with her classmate.

Similar Expressions: Offer peace / Make the first move

9. Kiss and make up

Definition: To end a quarrel and become friends again through a kind gesture.

Used in a Sentence: The children hugged each other to kiss and make up after fighting over crayons. / They decided to kiss and make up before the school bell rang.

Similar Expressions: Reconcile quickly / Make up

10. Give a second chance

Definition: To offer someone another opportunity after they have made a mistake.

Used in a Sentence: The coach decided to give him a second chance after he missed practice. / She was glad her friend gave her a second chance to explain what happened.

Similar Expressions: Grant another try / Pardon a mistake

11. Meet halfway

Definition: To compromise with someone so both people can find peace and agreement.

Used in a Sentence: If we want to pick a movie, we need to meet halfway. / He agreed to meet halfway by doing the dishes if she swept the floor.

Similar Expressions: Compromise nicely / Share the middle

12. Patch things up

Definition: To fix a broken friendship or relationship by talking and forgiving.

Used in a Sentence: They worked hard to patch things up after their big disagreement. / My parents helped us patch things up after we argued over the video game.

Similar Expressions: Mend fences / Fix the bond

13. Mend fences

Definition: To repair a damaged relationship and bring back friendly feelings.

Used in a Sentence: The two neighbors tried to mend fences by sharing garden vegetables. / She spent the afternoon trying to mend fences with her cousin.

Similar Expressions: Repair relationships / Restore harmony

14. Off the hook

Definition: Freed from blame, punishment, or responsibility for a mistake.

Used in a Sentence: The teacher let him off the hook when he explained why his homework was late. / Once he said sorry, his mother let him off the hook for tracking mud inside.

Similar Expressions: Forgiven completely / Out of trouble

15. Clear your conscience

Definition: To relieve your guilt by confessing a mistake and receiving forgiveness.

Used in a Sentence: He felt much better after he apologized and cleared his conscience. / Telling the truth helped her clear her conscience before bedtime.

Similar Expressions: Ease your mind / Free your spirit

16. Let sleeping dogs lie

Definition: To leave an old problem alone instead of bringing up past arguments.

Used in a Sentence: We decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not bring up last week’s silly fight. / It is better to let sleeping dogs lie than start another disagreement.

Similar Expressions: Leave it alone / Avoid old arguments

17. Live and let live

Definition: A philosophy of accepting other people’s faults and forgiving their quirks.

Used in a Sentence: My grandparents always say we should practice live and let live with our neighbors. / She adopted a live and let live attitude to keep peace in the house.

Similar Expressions: Tolerate differences / Accept others

18. Give the benefit of the doubt

Definition: To believe someone’s explanation is true even if you are not entirely sure.

Used in a Sentence: Even though the story sounded strange, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. / She decided to give her teammate the benefit of the doubt about the missed catch.

Similar Expressions: Trust generously / Believe the best

19. Open a new chapter

Definition: To move forward from past mistakes into a positive new time in life.

Used in a Sentence: After saying sorry and forgiving each other, they opened a new chapter. / Moving to a new school allowed her to open a new chapter with friends.

Similar Expressions: Turn the page / Start anew

20. Turn over a new leaf

Definition: To change your behavior for the better and leave past bad habits behind.

Used in a Sentence: He promised to turn over a new leaf and always share his toys. / She turned over a new leaf by being nicer to her younger siblings.

Similar Expressions: Start fresh / Change for good

21. Bury the past

Definition: To put old hurts behind you so they stop affecting your current life.

Used in a Sentence: They agreed to bury the past and focus on making fun memories. / Forgiving someone means you are willing to bury the past.

Similar Expressions: Forget old times / Leave yesterday behind

22. Breathe a sigh of relief

Definition: To feel relaxed after a tense conflict or worry is finally forgiven.

Used in a Sentence: She breathed a sigh of relief when her friend accepted her apology. / We all breathed a sigh of relief once the misunderstanding was cleared up.

Similar Expressions: Feel relieved / Relax at last

23. Shake hands on it

Definition: To make a friendly agreement to forgive and move forward together.

Used in a Sentence: They promised to be kind from now on and shook hands on it. / After sorting out the confusion, the boys shook hands on it.

Similar Expressions: Seal the deal / Agree peacefully

24. Kiss the past goodbye

Definition: To let go of old grievances and stop worrying about ancient mistakes.

Used in a Sentence: It is time to kiss the past goodbye and start our project together. / She decided to kiss the past goodbye and forgive the unkind words.

Similar Expressions: Say goodbye to yesterday / Leave history behind

25. Let bygones rest

Definition: To allow past troubles to remain undisturbed without bringing them up again.

Used in a Sentence: Let bygones rest so we can enjoy our family dinner in peace. / He told his brother to let bygones rest after the small argument.

Similar Expressions: Rest the case / Forget old feuds

26. Ease the tension

Definition: To make a stressful situation feel calm and friendly again.

Used in a Sentence: Telling a funny joke helped ease the tension in the room. / An apology from the team captain helped ease the tension after the loss.

Similar Expressions: Calm the mood / Soften the atmosphere

27. Smooth things over

Definition: To make a disagreement feel better by acting kind and apologetic.

Used in a Sentence: She brought cookies to school to smooth things over with her friends. / He tried to smooth things over by explaining he made an honest mistake.

Similar Expressions: Calm the waters / Fix the situation

28. Rise above it

Definition: To choose not to get angry or fight back when someone treats you poorly.

Used in a Sentence: Our teacher taught us to rise above it when other kids act unkindly. / She decided to rise above the teasing and walk away with a smile.

Similar Expressions: Take the high road / Stay graceful

29. Take the high road

Definition: To choose a kind, forgiving, and mature path during a disagreement.

Used in a Sentence: Instead of yelling back, he took the high road and offered an apology. / Taking the high road is always better than holding a grudge.

Similar Expressions: Act maturely / Choose kindness

30. Clear the slate

Definition: To erase all previous mistakes so everyone starts over equally.

Used in a Sentence: The coach cleared the slate for all players at the start of tryouts. / Let us clear the slate and work together on the science project.

Similar Expressions: Wipe clean / Reset everything

31. Drop the subject

Definition: To stop talking about an upsetting topic to keep the peace.

Used in a Sentence: When she started crying, he knew it was best to drop the subject. / They agreed to drop the subject and play a card game instead.

Similar Expressions: Stop talking about it / Leave it be

32. Bury the grudge

Definition: To stop feeling bitter and angry toward someone who upset you.

Used in a Sentence: It is healthy to bury the grudge and be kind to your classmates. / He finally decided to bury the grudge after receiving a sincere apology.

Similar Expressions: Drop the bitterness / Let go of hate

33. Drop the matter

Definition: To stop arguing or investigating an old mistake because peace is restored.

Used in a Sentence: The principal decided to drop the matter after the students apologized. / Let us drop the matter and focus on having a great weekend.

Similar Expressions: Stop pursuing / Forget it

34. Forgive and forget

Definition: To pardon someone completely and never bring up their mistake again.

Used in a Sentence: True friendship means you are willing to forgive and forget. / Grandma always told us to forgive and forget when minor accidents happen.

Similar Expressions: Pardon entirely / Let it all go

35. Make a clean breast of it

Definition: To confess your wrongdoing honestly so you can ask for forgiveness.

Used in a Sentence: He decided to make a clean breast of it and tell the truth about the broken vase. / She felt much better after making a clean breast of her mistake.

Similar Expressions: Confess honestly / Tell all

36. Kiss and be friends

Definition: To stop fighting and return to a warm, friendly relationship.

Used in a Sentence: After the small argument on the playground, they decided to kiss and be friends. / The siblings hugged to kiss and be friends before dinner.

Similar Expressions: Make up / Restore friendship

37. Build bridges

Definition: To create friendly connections between people who were once enemies.

Used in a Sentence: The new student council president wanted to build bridges across different school clubs. / Reaching out to your classmates helps build bridges of friendship.

Similar Expressions: Connect people / Foster unity

38. Let cooler heads prevail

Definition: To stay calm and patient during a heated argument instead of fighting back.

Used in a Sentence: When the debate got too loud, the teacher let cooler heads prevail. / We need to let cooler heads prevail before we make a decision.

Similar Expressions: Stay calm / Calm down

39. Melt the ice

Definition: To soften a cold, unfriendly attitude between two people.

Used in a Sentence: A warm smile from the new girl helped melt the ice in the classroom. / Sharing a funny story helped melt the ice between the shy teammates.

Similar Expressions: Warm up / Break the tension

40. Start with a clean slate

Definition: To begin a new phase without carrying any old mistakes or judgments.

Used in a Sentence: Every Monday morning gives us a chance to start with a clean slate. / The art teacher let us start with a clean slate on our paintings.

Similar Expressions: Fresh start / Brand new beginning

41. Bury the hatchet deep

Definition: To completely and permanently end an old quarrel with someone.

Used in a Sentence: They promised to bury the hatchet deep and never fight about chores again. / The two rival teams buried the hatchet deep after the charity match.

Similar Expressions: End permanently / Make lasting peace

42. Drop the axe of forgiveness

Definition: To generously pardon someone who is expecting a harsh punishment.

Used in a Sentence: The manager dropped the axe of forgiveness instead of firing the worker. / She hoped her parents would drop the axe of forgiveness for her broken curfew.

Similar Expressions: Grant mercy / Show leniency

43. Wipe the record clean

Definition: To completely erase past faults so a person has a fresh start.

Used in a Sentence: The librarian wiped the record clean after the overdue book was returned. / He was happy the principal wiped the record clean for his attendance.

Similar Expressions: Clear history / Reset record

44. Offer an olive branch of peace

Definition: A symbolic friendly action sent to someone to show you want to forgive.

Used in a Sentence: She baked cookies and sent them as an olive branch of peace. / He offered an olive branch of peace by waving across the street.

Similar Expressions: Gesture of peace / Friendly offer

45. Give a clean bill of emotional health

Definition: To declare that a relationship is fully healed and free of past hurts.

Used in a Sentence: After talking for hours, they gave their friendship a clean bill of emotional health. / The family reunion had a clean bill of emotional health this year.

Similar Expressions: Fully healed / Healthy bond

46. Let the past bury its dead

Definition: To leave old tragedies and hurts behind without letting them ruin today.

Used in a Sentence: It is wise to let the past bury its dead and enjoy the present moment. / She forgave her rival, deciding to let the past bury its dead.

Similar Expressions: Leave yesterday behind / Forget old grief

47. Open your heart

Definition: To become willing to love, trust, and forgive someone who hurt you.

Used in a Sentence: It takes courage to open your heart and forgive someone who made a mistake. / She learned to open her heart and accept her brother’s apology.

Similar Expressions: Be forgiving / Welcome back

48. Let love conquer all

Definition: A belief that kindness and forgiveness are stronger than any argument.

Used in a Sentence: Whenever they argued, Grandma reminded them to let love conquer all. / They settled their dispute by choosing to let love conquer all.

Similar Expressions: Choose love / Kindness wins

49. Turn over a bright new leaf

Definition: To start fresh with a positive and forgiving attitude toward others.

Used in a Sentence: He decided to turn over a bright new leaf and make peace with everyone. / She turned over a bright new leaf by smiling at her classmates daily.

Similar Expressions: Start fresh / Shine anew

50. Smile and forgive

Definition: To accept an apology happily and let go of negative feelings instantly.

Used in a Sentence: When her little sister said sorry, she chose to smile and forgive. / It feels wonderful to simply smile and forgive someone who made a mistake.

Similar Expressions: Pardon with a smile / Forgive happily

Exercise to Practice

1. Burying the hatchet means continuing to fight with someone forever and never making peace.
2. Turning the other cheek means choosing not to fight back when someone offends you.
3. Wiping the slate clean means keeping track of every single mistake someone ever made.
4. Letting bygones be bygones means agreeing to forget past arguments and move forward.
5. Clearing the air means yelling loudly at your friends to make them feel worse.
6. Water under the bridge refers to past mistakes that are no longer important.
7. Extending an olive branch means offering a peaceful gesture to end a disagreement.
8. Being let off the hook means you are punished severely for a minor mistake.
9. Letting sleeping dogs lie means leaving an old problem alone instead of arguing again.
10. Taking the high road means choosing a kind, mature path during a disagreement.
11. Forgiving and forgetting means holding onto a grudge for many years.
12. Making a clean breast of it means confessing your wrongdoing honestly to ask for forgiveness.
13. Building bridges means tearing down friendships and making enemies on purpose.
14. Letting cooler heads prevail means staying calm during a heated argument.
15. Opening your heart means becoming willing to forgive someone who hurt you.

Answer Key

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. True
8. False
9. True
10. True
11. False
12. True
13. False
14. True
15. True

Conclusion

Learning idioms for forgiveness gives you wonderful ways to talk about peace, kindness, and second chances. These expressions help you explain how people mend broken relationships and move forward happily.

Try using some of these phrases in your stories, school writing, or when talking with your friends. Practicing these sayings will make your English vocabulary warm, caring, and expressive!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common idioms for forgiveness?

Common idioms include “bury the hatchet,” “water under the bridge,” and “wipe the slate clean.” People use these everyday phrases to talk about ending arguments and making peace.

Why do we use idioms to talk about forgiveness?

Idioms help express deep emotional ideas like grace and peace in a colorful, memorable way. They make stories and conversations feel warmer and more relatable.

Can I use forgiveness idioms in my school writing?

Yes, these idioms work wonderfully in creative stories, character descriptions, and personal essays. They help show how characters grow by learning to forgive each other.

What does it mean to bury the hatchet?

To bury the hatchet means to stop fighting and make peace with someone after a disagreement. The phrase comes from an old custom where tribes literally buried their weapons when making peace.

What is the difference between water under the bridge and a second chance?

Water under the bridge means an old problem is completely forgotten because it happened long ago. A second chance means giving someone a new opportunity right after they made a recent mistake.