fact (redirected from facts of life)

after the fact

after something has happened; after something, such as a crime, has taken place. (Originally a legal phrase.) John is always making excuses after the fact.

See also: after

and that's a fact

Fig. and that is true. (Used to emphasize a statement.) John ain't no friend of mine, and that's a fact. I'll be glad when this day is over, and that's a fact.

See also: and

as a matter of fact

actually; in addition to what has been said; in reference to what has been said. As a matter of fact, John came into the room while you were talking about him. I'm not a poor worker. As a matter of fact, I'm very efficient.

See also: matter

face (the) facts

to confront the truth about someone or something; to confront and accept the consequences of something. Eventually, you will have to face the facts. Times are hard.

See also: face

Fact is stranger than fiction, and Truth is stranger than fiction.

Prov. Things that really happen are harder to believe or more amazing than stories that people invent. Did you see the story in the newspaper about the criminal who attacks people with a toenail clipper? Fact is stranger than fiction! Jill: I can't believe someone's paying 900 dollars for Tom's broken-down old car—it doesn't even run. Jane: Truth is stranger than fiction.

See also: stranger

get down to the facts

to begin to talk about things that matter; to get to the truth. The judge told the lawyer that the time had come to get down to the facts. Let's get down to the facts, Mrs. Brown. Where were you on the night of January 16?

See also: get

get the facts straight and have the facts straight

Fig. to have an understanding of the real facts. Ask a lot of questions and get all of your facts straight. Please be sure you have the facts straight before you make a decision.

See also: get, straight

grounded in (actual) fact

Fig. based on facts. This movie is grounded in fact. The stories in this book are all grounded in actual fact.

See also: ground

in fact

in reality; really; actually. I'm over forty. In fact, I'm forty-six. This is a very good computer. In fact, it's the best.

in point of fact

just to point out a fact; in fact. In point of fact, I am not late. You are simply way too early.

See also: point

It's for a fact.

Rur. It is true. Charlie: I can't believe that Bill's selling his house. Tom: It's for a fact! It's for a fact that chocolate is poison to cats.

known fact

something that is generally recognized as a fact. That grass is green is a known fact. It is a known fact that John was in Chicago on the night of the murder.

See also: known

the facts of life 

1. Euph. the facts of sex and reproduction, especially human reproduction. (See also .) My parents told me the facts of life when I was nineyears old. Bill learned the facts of life from his classmates.

2. Fig. the truth about the unpleasant ways that the world works. Mary really learned the facts of life when she got her first job. Tom couldn't accept the facts of life in business, so he quit.

See also: life

---

a fact of life

an unpleasant fact or situation which people accept because they cannot change it (not used with the ) She grew up in Northern Ireland during the 1970s when violence had become a fact of life.

See also: life

It's easy to be wise after the event.  (British, American & Australian) also It's easy to be smart after the fact. (American)

something that you say which means that it is easy to understand what you could have done to prevent something bad from happening after it has happened In retrospect I suppose we should have realised that she was in trouble and tried to help her, but then I suppose it's easy to be wise after the event. People often tell me they'd never have taken out a loan if they'd thought about it more carefully - but it's easy to be smart after the fact.

See also: after, easy, event, wise

the facts of life

if you tell someone, especially a child, the facts of life, you tell them about sex and how babies are born Parents are often embarrassed about telling their children the facts of life.

See also: life

---

as a matter of fact (spoken)

actually in (point of) fact I did vote for her, as a matter of fact.

Usage notes: used to emphasize the truth of what you are saying

Related vocabulary: in reality

See also: matter

face facts also let's face (the) facts

we must accept the truth of this (let's) face it You have to face facts - when your boss tells you she doesn't like your report, you'd better rewrite it.

Related vocabulary: get real

See also: face

in (point of) fact

actually as a matter of fact Steve decided not to come with us, and in fact he has already left for New York. In fact, we visited the school last week.

Related vocabulary: in reality

is that a fact

really “The more I read about elephants, the more I realized they are very complicated animals.” “Is that a fact?”