it is what it is
2
7.4
- idiom
- Informal
:
es lo que hay
- When faced with unexpected challenges, remember that it is what it is and you have to adapt.
- I know, it is what it is
- it is what it is now
But you know what, it is what it is.
- But you know what, it is what it is.
- He is going through it, but it is what it is.
- And at that point, it's like, all right, it is what it is.
- So the sooner you accept that it is what it is, right?
- You know, it is what it is and you know, for that reason.
- But that's what it is, what it is, what it ain't.
- I know it sounds, you know, it is what it is.
- I ain't saying nothing, but it is what it is, baby.
- It was, you know, it is what it is.
- And so, you know, it is what it is.
Examples
-
Look, it is what it is.
-
After a long discussion, we finally agreed that it is what it is and we should move forward.
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In any case, it is what it is, and it will play an important role in what comes.
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But it is what it is.
-
I hate to say it like that, but it is what it is.
Blog text (32) -
However, it is what it is.
Blog text (32) -
To me, it is what it is.
Blog text (32) -
It is what it is.
-
I'm wildly imperfect, and it is what it is.
Blog text (32) -
Sometimes you have to remind yourself that it is what it is, and there’s nothing more you can do.
Synonyms
33
4.1
Accept a situation without trying to change it
1
6.7
To accept a situation you cannot change
1
8.6
Tell someone to accept a situation they cannot change
Accept something as it is even if you do not like it
Surface Forms
Morphology
The constituent words are fully transparent (it + is + what + it + is) and the sentence literally states an identity/tautology, but the conventionalized pragmatic meaning of resigned acceptance is not fully predictable from the parts alone. While many languages have similar tautological expressions that can cue resignation, understanding the communicative stance (resignation/acceptance) typically requires familiarity with conversational usage, so a B1 learner might not infer the idiomatic force without exposure.
Etymology
The phrase it is what it is may come from the simple act of pointing at something broken or bad and giving a small shrug, as if to say the thing 'is just that' and you cannot change it. So, the phrase means 'accepting a situation that cannot be changed'.