Idioms Entry 221 / 1011 60-second read

It is what it is

An expression used to accept a difficult situation that cannot be changed.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

The server crashed, and it is what it is not.

✓ Correct

We lost the contract. It is what it is; we move on.

The ruleii

Use this phrase to signal radical acceptance of a frustrating reality.

It is a tautology (stating the same thing twice), which can feel dismissive if used in the wrong context.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Acceptance in a nutshell.

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