How does saying sorry usually work in your family, is it spoken, or shown in other ways?

A natural way to answer

We're not big on grand apologies. After an argument, things just quietly go back to normal, and that softening is how you know it's water under the bridge. It works for us, though I do think saying it out loud would clear things up faster.

Key phrases to use

• move on — to stop dwelling on a problem or argument and continue as normal“We argued, then just moved on.”
• left unsaid — not spoken out loud, even though it's understood“The apology was left unsaid but felt.”
• water under the bridge — a past problem or argument that no longer matters and has been forgiven“That fight is water under the bridge now.”
• clear things up — to resolve confusion or tension by explaining or talking openly“A quick chat would clear things up.”
• blows over — to gradually end and be forgotten, especially an argument or bad mood“Give it a day and it'll blow over.”
• making amends — to do something to show you're sorry and put right a wrong“He cooked dinner as a way of making amends.”