it is what it is 

A) A phrase that seems to simply state the obvious but actually implies helplessness.

B) A phrase that seems to simply state the obvious but actually means "it will be what it is," as in "it ain't gonna change, so deal with it or don't." See also tough shit, oh well, cry me a river and tfb.

Meaning A
J: I can't believe the price of gas!

B: It is what it is.

Meaning B
J: It troubles me that you continue to put cyanide in my Yoohoo even after I've asked you to stop.

B: It is what it is.

it is what it is by JohnnyAZ May 26, 2006

It is what it is 

A cliche, popular within the circles of coaches, business execs, and those of us who just want to say "It's happened. 'I'm going to forget about it. I'm going to move on. There is nothing that can be done about it."

Voted by USA Today as the #1 cliche of 2004

"We showed up and gave 100%, and it is what it is."— NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, after finishing second in the Nextel Cup championship. (AP, Nov. 22)

"Never in a million years did I think we would be 1-5 at this juncture, but it is what it is."— Mike Minter, safety for the NFL's Carolina Panthers, on his team's start this season. (AP, Oct. 24)

Is this a better game than before? That's what a lot of people are asking. Perhaps the more precise question should be: Is this what hockey is going to evolve into? And if so, will the fans, the players, the coaches, and the general managers embrace it as NHL hockey?
"It is what it is," said Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock. "It's a new game." (AP, Oct. 23)

It is what it is by Ricky Roma November 3, 2005

it is what it is 

A quintessentially American East Coast colloquialism that is meant as a sort of passive acceptance of a situation that is not favorable but also cannot be changed (or at least not right away). It can be used in any context, although usually it refers to an illness, injury, stroke of bad luck financially, romantic trouble, etc. It should never be used as a means to an end in an actual intellectual comversation. Also known as: What will be will be. Suck it up. Deal with it.

"Landlord bumped my rent up... oh well, we don't have a lease agreement. Eh, it is what it is."

::after a long perios of obsessively analyzing what went wrong in a toxic relationship; finding oneself depressed and overwhelmed by the details of it all; an acceptance (these are usually prefaced by a weighted sigh):: "It is what it is."

it is what it is by ERIC ROUNDABOUT November 21, 2015

You know what it is 

A song by T.I.

When someone recognizes, acknowledges and agrees with a statement somebody has made.

Guy 1: That was a sick touchdown.

Guy 2: You know what it is.

You know what it is by BigThingsPopping October 17, 2008

It is what it is 

A popular “weasel phrase” used frequently by merger integration consultants, it refers to a negative situation that is outside of one’s sphere of influence and as such should not be further pursued in hopes of resolution. An approximate translation could be: “this is f*cked, but I can’t fix it, so why bother”.

"This company is rubbish. Their systems are stuffed, all their good staff are leaving, and just when the sh*t is hitting the fan, our manager goes off on holiday to Hawaii. But it is what it is, I guess...”

It is what it is by Thirty dollar man August 13, 2011

It is what it ain’t 

The unfortunate reality that things are not what they seem to be. The correction of ‘it is what it is’.

As I live longer I reply to people who tell me: ‘It is what it is’; with ‘It is what it ain’t’ because I am not able to deny and therefore imply agreement.

It is what it ain’t by Major Thomas Randle September 17, 2018

it is what it is 

Meaning #1 A phase used to instill a sense of acceptance in a situation. It is used to remind one of the unalterable elements of life. think of " I am who I am" The phaze defines things that cannot be changed, it to say "it is this way, so we have to accept it." An apple can never be an orange, even though if you wish, hope and dream it was an orange. it IS what it IS

Meaning #2 The condition of state of the present that has to be accepted.

1.I hate the fact that I wear a size 12 shoe, but it is what it is...

2. I was ashamed to tell him that my mom is an alcoholic, but it is what it.

it is what it is by Social Security October 6, 2008