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It is what it is

Beijing tops ObamaSpeak as the Top Teleword of the Year followed by 'facts are stubborn things', 'it is what it is,' and Phelpsian.

That is the headline of a story released by the Global Language Monitor in its fifth annual analysis of the most cited, or sighted, words on the web.

Beijing tops the list thanks, obviously to the Olympics which drew some 4.7 viewers from around the world. ObamaSpeak refers to newly coined words in relation, or allusion, to Barack Obama the American Democratic presidential candidate, such as Obamamentum (momentum), Obamacize (criticize), Obamarama (panorama). Phelpsian? Michael Phelps, of course, the American swimmer who bagged 8 gold medals in Beijing. But my question to you is: what does "it is what it is" mean?

Well, "Facts are stubborn things" is one explanation, given by John Adams. This quaint turn of phrase shot to No. 4 on the list (right behind "it is what it is" itself in third place) thanks to the fact that the HBO's miniseries about the life of the second US President won 13 Emmys, the most in the history of US television's version of the Oscars (which are for Hollywood). But my question remains, do you get the message? What does "it is what it is" mean?

Frankly speaking, this phrase reminds me most of Jeff Van Gundy, former coach of Yao Ming with the Rockets. Van Gundy wears "it is what it is" on his lips as often as Sarah Palin applies a lipstick. That's an exaggeration, but you get the idea. "It is what it is" epitomizes Van Gundy's no-excuse, no-complaint approach to life. And work, of course, at which he's been known as a no-nonsense coach who demands dedication and perfection from his players, which is one reason why he was so fond of Yao.