c'est la vie
Such is life
C'est la vie is a French phrase meaning "that's life," used to express resigned acceptance of disappointment or misfortune.
It acknowledges that some things are beyond our control: The flight was canceled, but c'est la vie—we'll go tomorrow.
The tone is philosophical rather than defeated, suggesting life has its inevitable frustrations.
- such is lifeResigned acceptance of fate
- that's lifeResigned acceptance of circumstances
- que sera seraAccept what comes philosophy
- it is what it isTautological resignation phrase
- fatePredetermined course of events
destiny · acceptance · roll with it · shrug · shoulder shrug · French · resignation · philosophy · inevitable · sigh · joie de vivre · life goes on · whatever · stoic · bittersweet · melancholy · nonchalant · fatalism
- French Loanwordsa la carte, ballet, a la mode, au revoir, bon appetit
- Romance Loanwordsamor, amour, au revoir, bonjour, ciao
- acceptance phraseslet it go, it is what it is, such is life, que sera sera, come to terms
- Foreign Wordsadieu, adios, aloha, au revoir, bonjour
- fatedestiny, fate, kismet, Moira, fated
- lamentslamentation, wailing, keen, keening, lament
c'est la viefight the power
Resist dominant authority
never give up · over my dead body · I refuse · fight back · fight the good fight
c'est la vietake control
Begin directing things
self-determination · make it happen · be the change · carpe diem · seize the day
c'est la vieoutrage
Fierce moral indignation
indignation · righteous anger · protest · fury · defiance
c'est, vie, vitalize, revitalize, viable