# A little game I play to amuse myself - It Is What It Is **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 26, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800 "2018-06-26T21:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/1 "2018-06-26T21:58:29Z")
I’ve grown so damned tired of the phrase “it is what it is”. Folks who spout it give the impression that they are conveying something profound. I’ve begun keeping track of how many times I hear it per day. From anyone, in any context. I’ve only been doing it for a week or so, but today I counted a record 3 occurrences: one by a cow-orker, one on a radio sports show, and one on a television news report. I know, I need a life. mmm ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/2 "2018-06-26T22:10:18Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I know, I need a life. Hey, it is what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/3 "2018-06-26T22:12:17Z")
I do the same kinda thing. I’ll hear an unusual word or name. Or read a phrase. I count the days ( sometimes hours ) before I hear it again. Eh!? It passes time. It is what it is.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2018, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/4 "2018-06-26T23:45:30Z")
I agree that people can over-use (or mis-use) the phrase, “It is what it is.” But it actually is a useful phrase, in that many times people lose sight of the truth it embodies. People often indulge in wishful thinking, whimsy, and what-if games, and forget to face the actual facts. In cases like that, “It is what it is” is a good concise way to try to get back to reality. But you are correct that people are more likely to use it in an incorrect, non-helpful manner. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/5 "2018-06-27T00:36:44Z")
Ehrmann said it more poetically. “No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should”. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/6 "2018-06-27T01:27:59Z")
Maybe you could start saying _Is it what is it?_ a lot and start a new counter-meme. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/7 "2018-06-27T01:49:55Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Maybe you could start saying _Is it what is it?_ a lot and start a new counter-meme. Or perhaps “it ain’t what it ain’t”? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/8 "2018-06-27T02:14:11Z")
I really don’t mind “it is what it is,” although I really try not to use it myself. What bugs me more is “at the end of the day.” It’s more like “the final conclusion is.” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/9 "2018-06-27T11:00:19Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I really don’t mind “it is what it is,” although I really try not to use it myself. > > What bugs me more is “at the end of the day.” > > It’s more like “the final conclusion is.” “At the end of the day” bugs me too, but I don’t seem to hear it nearly as often as IIWII. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/10 "2018-06-27T12:45:34Z")
At least they aren’t saying “per se”. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/11 "2018-06-27T13:19:33Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > What bugs me more is “at the end of the day.” > > It’s more like “the final conclusion is.” A new neighbor from Africa would say this, and I would take it literally, and think “So, he’s going to paint his garage… after dinner? He’ll only have an hour of light left…” It wasn’t til I heard a British newsreader use the phrase that I got it. By the way, I often hear “It is what it is” said in a “giving up” tone. Often with a shrug. Sort if like “Well, no use trying to change it, no sense in even thinking about it”. Often said by people who SHOULD be thinking about it! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/12 "2018-06-27T13:26:35Z")
I do the same with “Yeah, but…” No matter what you say to people, they will counter with “yeah, but…” We don’t take American Express. Yeah, but I’m spending a lot of money here. The store is closed. Yeah, but I need to get some things for a party tomorrow. I’m sorry, the register is closed. Yeah, but I only have a few items. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/13 "2018-06-27T13:30:14Z")
Well you have provided me with a new game because I don’t think I have ever heard it said. So now I will start listening for it. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/14 "2018-06-27T13:58:14Z")
Now that you are aware of it, you’re going to realize how often it is said. My co-workers have a hard time keeping a straight face when they hear “Yeah, but…” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/15 "2018-06-27T16:27:22Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Or perhaps “it ain’t what it ain’t”? > mmm > [@](#): > > Bewildered, Bewildered > You have no complaint > You are what you are and you ain’t what you ain’t > So listen up buster, and listen up good > Stop wishing for bad luck and knocking on wood – _Dear Abby_, performed by John Prine. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/16 "2018-06-27T18:57:53Z")
Some people play fast and loose with their “ologies”, but that’s really a taut ology! ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/17 "2018-06-27T19:13:24Z")
I used to do that with “You know what?” but I don’t hear it much anymore. ---
**Author:** ![CharmaChameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@CharmaChameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CharmaChameleon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/18 "2018-06-27T22:06:16Z")
My sister liberally sprinkles her conversation with, “You know what I mean?”, then keeps right on blathering. I have on many occasions interrupted her by saying, “No, I don’t know what you mean. Can you explain that?” (That usually at least impedes the flow of logorrhea, at least briefly.) ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/19 "2018-06-28T00:43:40Z")
Maybe at the end of the day we need to be on the same page about coming up with better phrases going forward. You dig? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800/20 "2018-06-28T09:35:08Z")
I heard two 'it is what it is’s yesterday. Damn, I think I _do_ hear it every day. mmm [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-game-i-play-to-amuse-myself-it-is-what-it-is/816800.md?page=2)