life imitates art

cliché Said when something in real life occurs in the same or a similar way to something that was depicted in a piece of art or fiction. Often used humorously or sarcastically. The disaster played out almost exactly as it did in the dystopian future depicted in the famous novel. A chilling instance of life imitating art. A: "And then they convinced us to get back together! It's just like that movie The Parent Trap." B: "Wow, life imitates art, huh?"