I’ve been hearing this phrase more and more lately, and it’s really been getting on my nerves. It is what it is is the most meaningless 5 word sentence I can imagine.

Perhaps I’m a little behind on this issue. According to Urban Dictionary, this phrase was voted the #1 cliché of 2004. Apparently, it’s supposed to mean something to the effect of “The situation is not good, but we’ll just accept it and move on.” It’s really an expression of regret thinly veiled as acceptance. People say something is what it is when they want to avoid saying anything at all.

I suppose the phrase is what it is though, so maybe I should quit complaining.