that's (just) the way it plays
(redirected from that's the way it plays)that's (just) the way it plays
There is nothing we can do to change or prevent the way things have unfolded or will unfold; this is just the normal way things happen. Usually said of negative events or outcomes that are or seem unfair. A: "So you mean after nearly a year of hard work, all my profits are going to taxes? That's bull!" B: "Yep, but that's the way it plays." A: "I can't believe their little boy died of cancer." B: "I know, it's really awful. That's just the way it plays sometimes."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
way it plays
Sl. the way it is; the way things are. The world is a rough place, and that's the way it plays. It's tough, but it's the way it plays.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
the way it plays
in. the way it is; the way things are. The world is a rough place, and that’s the way it plays.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.