"It is what it is."
 

Is it just me or is this phrase being used a lot lately?

It may be something that's been around for awhile, but I seem to be hearing it more and more nowdays.

"The writer's strike stinks."
"I know, people are going to get laid off left and right."
"Yep."
"Well, it is what it is, I guess."
"Yep."

(???)

It's such a weird phrase to me. I don't get it. I've even used it on people who used it on me and it's accepted as a reasonable response to something.
:D

Anyway, just something I noticed...

(And I know I just started the Old Yeller thread, but I'm cutting diet soda out of my diet and I've just drank a cup of coffee... which I rarely do. I'm wired!!!!)

My old boss used to use that phrase all the time, drove me absolutely bonkers! But, it is what it is!

s.o.c.k.s.

I use that phrase. Just means "you can't change it, so no sense b*tching about it.

"It's beyond my control". (Of course it is best when John Malkovich says it.)

I was just reading something about this phrase recently but I'm not finding it.

Here is a 2004 USA Today article on its sudden popularity in sports. William Safire wrote a column about it in March 2006 where the first use he can find is from 1949 though increasing dramatically in use over the last decade.

He also points out two earlier versions of the phrase from vastly different sources:

"What I have written, I have written" - John 19:22
"I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam" - Popeye

Don't forget the ever-popular "Que sera sera"

Have you heard the Pink Martini version of that song? VERY haunting!

Woah, flashback!
 

En français, "It is what it is" = Ainsi soit-il.

That happens to be the title of a mid-'70's hit by Demis Roussos, who's signature look was a caftan.

You can watch him perform "Ainsi soit-il" in all it's hideous glory. Brace yourself, there's more than one man in a caftan in the clip.

Cripes, that's the caftan to end all caftans! I've seen more plausible clothing in original Star Trek episodes.

Oh well, it is what it is.

Melvin Belli in a caftan-like garment, as I recall, was very scary!

Exactly, it's just an updating of this popular sentiment (though one less likely to be used in a melodic manner of song).


I think the sentiment is one of humanity's best pieces of advice, so I wouldn't stress too much about the way it is pronounced at any particular moment along pop cultural timeline.

Melvin Belli was just scary, period.

I've voiced my exasperation with this phrase recently, and it seems to trigger resentment from those friends I mention it to. (And I'm VERY gentle with said voicing, at least in person.) So, I guess my friends currently feel they need this phrase, but I'm really anxious for it to pass. On the other hand, some of the above-mentioned paraphrases of it should be launched into the memesphere immediately. Let's have some variety out there!

Admittedly, I tire of catch-phrases about the third time I hear them, so that's an area where I get curmudgeonly quickly. End of semi-rant.

"No Worries" makes me bonkers. The Ex uses it constantly and it drives me insane.

I say that a lot. To my clients. :D
I say 'cool' a lot, too.

Not JUST a caftan! That's a caftan worn with (gloriously mismatching) silver metallic platform disco boots!

It's all good.

or

Page 449.

Well, I've been saying "It is what it is" for too many years to give it up now. I could probably phase out "no worries", but as it is I use it mostly out of habitual reflex, so it could take a while.

Who knew I'd ever be guilty of utilizing "popular" vernacular?

Hakuna Matata

I can't use that phrase. People will think I'm some sort of Disney geek or something.
:D

Also, it has too many syllables in it. And too many a's in it.

The catch phrase of note around casa de Moonie these days is:

Deal With It.

But that just shows what trash TV whores we are.

Leave Britney ALONE!

I started "Don't tase me, bro" in my office.
:D

Anytime something goes bad and you have to tell someone about it you start off by saying that.

Having already made my curmudgeonly statement, I'll now confess that I find myself using "anyhoo" on occasion, which is REALLY hypocritical of me, 'cos I hate hearing other people say "anyhoo."

I say "any hoo" or "any way" when I want to end a phone call.
:D

Me too! Usually when it's my mother.

If anyone ever catches me calling someone "bro" (and not in a sarcastic way or for comic effect), please do me a favor and shoot me.

I picked up "Son of a diddly" from Ned Flanders, but I may be the only one.

lol! I think that's who I got it from... my mother, I mean. Sometimes it's a little game to see who will say it first.
It's also a way I diffuse the very beginning of an argument.
Sometimes she'll start saying, "So, son, are you going to church? Today's Sunday." And I'll say, "Anyway... got to go." We laugh and hang up.

Whatever



Has to be one of the more irritating words in the Engrish ranguage

While we are on the subject of irritating...

I believe I speak for the entire Heroes watching population when I say that dread another Monday night of AAAALLLEJAAAANNNNNDROOOOOO!!! and MAAAAAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!... Take your annoying twincest issues and get off my screen!

My ex was totally bugged when I used that word. It was me totally dismissing what he said. In hindsight, I guess it is irritating.

I use it all the time. I'm pretty sure I post it quite often as well.

Oh well ;)

As I just told Maddy the other night. "You did not just whatever me". She's got the tween tude coming on.

Good luck with that. I barely survived both my sisters going through their tweens. Yikes.
:)

As the mother of two teenage girls, I will agree! You have to add the eye roll and hair flip, too.

Yes the rolleye and hair flip are super important. As well as a big sigh at the end.

Totally Tautological

Do you guys whatever/eyeroll/hairflip back to them?

I hear that can be effective. Or good for a laugh.

But of course. The standard response I get is another eyeroll and "Mom!" said in an exasperated whine. Then I say, "Don't Mom! me, young lady and btw don't you think what you're wearing is too revealing" and quickly think of a household chore my daughter must do RIGHT NOW.

I mean it. RIGHT NOW.

So, I forgot to fill in everyone about the funny epilogue to my little tirade about "It is what it is".
The other day, (after I started the thread) I was working on a big project. The big project screened with the client and boom right there at about 45 minutes in there is a digital hit on the screen. A biggun. So, everyone started freaking out and figuring how we were going to fix it and all that. (It turned out it wasn't our fault and that was nice.) So while we were scrambling and while Brad was in the hot seat, the client looks at me shrugs her shoulders and says, "Well, I'm not going to worry about it. It is what it is."



I almost fainted.
:D


The thing I was complaining about saved my butt.
Go fig...

Karma is an interesting thing

Okay... the sandwiches/sammiches/sammies thing:

Sandwich is the word. Sammiches are for when I'm being a dingbat/silly-little-sh!t. Sammies is never, ever, ever acceptable. "Hey everyone, want some sammies?"

Whatever!

;)

Anyone know why Salumi is suddenly being used EVERYWHERE? Oh, and did Dry Soda exist before Saturday night? And, if so, how did it appear EVERYWHERE so quickly?

The Secret

I keep seeing this thread, squinting one eye and saying "I YAM WHAT I YAM!" Toot toot!

Thinking of yams, I'm getting sizing up my quantities for making some sweet potato pies!! No, I don't use yams...

So, always? :p

Hey now!

You're an all star.
Get your game on.
Go play!

That's good. Because then it would be yammy.

"It is what it is" Merchandise
I smack my forehead with my palm.
:D

Now I know what to get you for Xmas.