Life Happens, But Only the Strong Survive.
"Life happens" is it an idiom or a fixed phrase having a special meaning. How I can understand this semantically?
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1Only the strong survive. – Michael Harvey Oct 15 '23 at 09:09
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@MichaelHarvey "life happens" means?? – Sam Oct 15 '23 at 09:25
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1Life happens is an expression which talks about the acceptance of misfortune/bad luck in one's life. – Billy Kerr Oct 15 '23 at 09:27
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@BillyKerr is the saying informal & please clear my doubt I stated in the question. – Sam Oct 15 '23 at 09:42
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A more informal and expressive phrase is "shit happens". – Weather Vane Oct 15 '23 at 09:45
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@WeatherVane - or you can say 'stuff happens' to your elderly aunt. – Michael Harvey Oct 15 '23 at 10:19
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@MichaelHarvey I am the elderly uncle and you can say what you like to me – been there, done that, got the T-shirt. – Weather Vane Oct 15 '23 at 10:20
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A dictionary. Some comments mention "shit happens" which has already been discussed on this site. – None Oct 15 '23 at 10:51
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1@Sam It's an idiom which could be used formally or informally. However, if you want to put it less idiomatic language, you could say "Misfortune is likely to happen to most people during their lifetime". I would however say that "Only the strong survive" is perhaps a little Machiavellian, or perhaps lacking in empathy. People can and do help each other overcome adversity. – Billy Kerr Oct 15 '23 at 10:57
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@BillyKerr thanks, why this idiom is not listed on any dictionaries? – Sam Oct 15 '23 at 11:15
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1Sam... shit happens idiomatic phrase vulgar — used to say that bad things happen as part of life and cannot be prevented (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Also life happens phrase. An expression of acceptance of misfortune and unforeseen bad circumstances or luck. (Wiktionary, the free dictionary) – Michael Harvey Oct 15 '23 at 11:29
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@MichaelHarvey ok, thanks but all dictionaries has not included the definition because It's uncommon expression. (I think) – Sam Oct 15 '23 at 11:36
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It is listed in some dictionaries – Billy Kerr Oct 15 '23 at 11:39
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1Sam: it's not 'uncommon', just informal, and for that reason some dictionaries will not include it. – Michael Harvey Oct 15 '23 at 11:40
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1As John Lennon said/sang: *Life is what happens to you. While you're busy making other plans.* – FumbleFingers Oct 15 '23 at 12:34
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"Life happens" is an idiom used to express that there are things we can't control, foresee, or prepare for. The future is unknown, and anything could happen.
It is often used to explain how time passes, and people end up in completely different situations than they anticipated, or were in before.
Joachim
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1@Sam: because its meaning can be understood from the individual words. In place of "Life" one could say "stuff" or "things". If you were upset because your plane was delayed when you were traveing to a friend's wedding, your friend might say to you on the phone, "Look, things happen" and the meaning would be "Life does not always unfold as planned." – TimR on some device Oct 15 '23 at 13:27