fact of life


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fact of life

Something unpleasant that must be accepted because it cannot be changed. Gloomy, rainy days are just a fact of life for the British. Death is a fact of life.
See also: fact, life, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

facts of life

Knowledge of sexual reproduction, as in Some people feel that the facts of life should not be taught in school. [Late 1800s] Also see birds and the bees.
See also: fact, life, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

a fact of life

COMMON If you say that something is a fact of life, you mean that it is something that often happens and cannot be avoided, even if it is unpleasant. It is a fact of life that parents want their children to marry and have their own children. Falling prices have been a fact of life in the housing market.
See also: fact, life, of
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

a fact of life

something that must be accepted and cannot be changed, however unpalatable.
See also: fact, life, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

a ˌfact of ˈlife

something difficult or unpleasant that cannot be changed and has to be accepted or dealt with: Taxes are a fact of life. You just have to pay them. ♢ It is a fact of life that some people are born more intelligent than others.
See also: fact, life, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

facts of life

1. n. an explanation of human reproduction, especially as presented to a child. No one ever explained the facts of life to me. I read books about it.
2. n. the truth about life’s difficulties. You had better face up to the facts of life and get a job.
See also: fact, life, of
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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