Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

it is what it is en · X

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) That's life; expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances, usually without complaint
    • I would prefer to start further up than where I am, but it is what it is and we'll just go out there and get to work. 2005 November 20, Viv Bernstein, “Stewart Poised to Head Onto Road Less Traveled”, in New York Times, retrieved 24 Jul 2008:
    • I shall not criticize the Treaty of Versailles. It is a fact. It is what it is. 1926 March 8, “La Semaine du Parlement”, in Time:
    • Air Force One comin' in through the gate Johnson sworn in at 2:38 Let me know when you decide to throw in the towel It is what it is, and it's murder most foul 2020, Bob Dylan, Murder Most Foul:
    • Unfortunately the insurance doesn't cover that. Sorry, but it is what it is.
  2. (broadly) Let it be; accept the fact and let the matter rest.
  3. (broadly, sometimes) Let it be; accept the fact and let the matter rest. ▸ Who cares?; I don't care.
    • But more important, while I am aware that "it is what it is" can be used in the "que sera sera" way, I do not agree that my interpretation of it is therefore incorrect. Rather, it is an example of how common it is in language for words and expressions to have more than one meaning, despite the fact that we rarely notice it. […] Regarding my troubles, he detachedly intoned, "Well, it is what it is." […] I recounted thinking: What a gorgeously chilly way of saying "Your problems don't matter to me." He was not using the phrase's other, "que sera sera" meaning, counseling me to accept how things unfold in a Zen-like way. / Those who think of the Zen version of "it is what it is" aren't wrong, however: It is often used that way when referring to oneself, for example. But those who agree with me that the expression can be dismissive are also correct in thinking of dismissive exchanges such as my own. "It is what it is" has two meanings. / The issue here is language change. The expression "it is what it is" began as counsel about coping. However, an implication floats over the proactive, constructive intent of the phrase: its element of distance, coolness, indifference. Implications like this can take over the word or expression's meaning and create either a new meaning or at least an alternative, 2.0 version. 2023 September 12, John McWhorter, “What Is 'It Is What It Is'?”, in New York Times, retrieved 13 Sep 2023:
  4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see it, is, what, it, is. This thing has its own distinct nature; this thing is itself.
    • That every thing has a real constitution, whereby it is what it is, and on which its sensible qualities depend, is past doubt. 1690, John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding:

Relateds

what can you do (let it be) · what can I say (let it be) · forget it (let it be) · it is how it is · tao (let it be) · it is as it is · zen (let it be) · stoicism (let it be) · sui generis (this thing has its own distinct nature)

Synonyms

it is how it is · for more see Thesaurus:that's life · so it goes · that's the way it goes · them's the breaks · that's the way the ball bounces · such is life · so is life · shit happens · that's life (This circumstance is simply a fact and must be accepted) · that's life · so be it · c'est la vie · c'est la vie · that's that and this is this · it is as it is · life's a bitch · that's the way the mop flops · that’s the way it plays · it is what it is · shit happens · that's the way the cookie crumbles · life's a bitch · que sera sera · that's the way life is · shit happens · such is life

Translations (38)

ja しょうがない (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · it vada come vada (3. this thing has its own nature) · fr c'est comme ça (3. this thing has its own nature) · es así pasa cuando sucede (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · fi sellaista se vain on (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · fi se on, mitä on (3. this thing has its own nature) · vi đành vậy thôi (3. this thing has its own nature) · ro aia e (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · pl jest jak jest (3. this thing has its own nature) · pt essa é a vida (3. this thing has its own nature) · ja 仕方がない (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · cmn 這就是事實 /这就是事实 (3. this thing has its own nature) · pl jest jak jest (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · fi näin se vain on (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · ru что есть (3. this thing has its own nature) · fi niin se vain on (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · lt bus tas kas bus (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · fi niin se vain menee (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · ru то есть (3. this thing has its own nature) · pt a vida é assim (3. this thing has its own nature) · es es lo que es (3. this thing has its own nature) · fa همین است که هست (3. this thing has its own nature) · pt é o que é (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · bg какво́то, тако́ва (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · hu ez van (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · it non c'è più niente da fare (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · sv det är vad det är (3. this thing has its own nature) · el είναι ό,τι είναι (3. this thing has its own nature) · es qué se le va a hacer (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · lt nieko nepadarysi (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · es es lo que hay (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · nl het is wat het is (3. this thing has its own nature) · ja そういうもの (3. this thing has its own nature) · da det er hvad det er (3. this thing has its own nature) · it è così (3. this thing has its own nature) · cmn 就是這樣的 /就是这样的 (1. phrase expressing resignment to a situation or set of circumstances) · nds-de dat is, wat dat is (3. this thing has its own nature) · cmn 就是這樣的 /就是这样的 (3. this thing has its own nature)