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If "it is what it is," what is it that it is exactly?

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    Best Answer (Chosen by Voting):

    nukemycorndog - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by nukemycorndog Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:50PM

    "it is" (the second part) is an attempt to short circuit the description without platitudes, judgement errors, flowery descriptors, sugar coatings, and the like. For instance, the pure devastation of Hurricane Katrina could have been described a thousand ways, but just saying "it is what it is" pretty summed it up as opposed to getting into statistics, blame, causes, or remorse. After seeing a close friend die a long slow death from Alzheimers, we just had to say "it is what it is" -- no words could lessen the impact of the death or make it any better. It was what it is -- a f**king horrible disease, a tragedy that robbed the man of all his faculties such that had he been aware, he would have chosen another road to death.

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17 Answers to "If "it is what it is," what is it that it is exactly?"

  1. imathinkin - 51-55 years old - female

    Posted by imathinkin Nov 25th, 2012 at 10:53PM

    acceptance...that some things just are, the result of which cannot be altered

    Like (1)

  2. LelainaTroy - 31-35 years old - female

    Posted by LelainaTroy Nov 25th, 2012 at 7:53PM

    Omg ...I hate this statement....yea...I want to know...WHAT THE FRAKK IS IT THEN???...ok sorry for my moment of insanity...carry on...

    Like (1)

  3. bijouxbroussard - 46-50 years old - female

    Posted by bijouxbroussard Nov 25th, 2012 at 7:03PM

    Something that I have no way of explaning. ;)

    Like (1)

  4. risenphoenix - 66-70 years old - male

    Posted by risenphoenix Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:48PM

    The passage of time.

    Like (1)

  5. rmaiava - 51-55 years old - male

    Posted by rmaiava Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:47PM

    Right, now you got it.

    Like (1)

  6. guidospeedo69 - 70+ years old - male

    Posted by guidospeedo69 Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:47PM

    If you have 23 odds and ends laying on a table and 22 of them fall off what are you left with? An odd or and end?

    Like (1)

  7. deadant7 - 31-35 years old - female

    Posted by deadant7 Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:45PM

    You can't change the facts.
    Things are as they appear to be.
    Do the best you can with what you've got.

    "It" generally referring to whatever situation it is people are talking about.

    Like (1)

  8. Abbeyrhode - 46-50 years old - female

    Posted by Abbeyrhode Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:44PM

    I never cared for that saying.

    Like (1)

  9. hertoy - 56-60 years old - male

    Posted by hertoy Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:44PM

    That means, accept the current reality...nothing you can do to change it anyway!

    Like (1)

  10. Olafsen - 46-50 years old - male

    Posted by Olafsen Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:44PM

    Invariably the opposite of the other.

    Like (1)

  11. chickenkiev - 36-40 years old - female

    Posted by chickenkiev Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:44PM

    Is it what is it?

    Like (1)

  12. PhilAm311 - 51-55 years old - female

    Posted by PhilAm311 Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:43PM

    Exactly!.... :O

    Like (1)

  13. Makessense - 66-70 years old - male

    Posted by Makessense Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:43PM

    ask former President Clinton what "is" is . . . he seems to have a good grasp of what is means.

    Like (1)

  14. wolflionheart - 36-40 years old - male

    Posted by wolflionheart Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:43PM

    it ... you know, the quintessential existence of itself ... the it that it is is it

    Like (1)

  15. Indie42 - 46-50 years old - female

    Posted by Indie42 Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:42PM

    It.

    Like (1)

  16. AlwaysOverwhelmed - 36-40 years old - female

    Posted by AlwaysOverwhelmed Nov 25th, 2012 at 6:42PM

    IT.

    Like (1)

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