this is how it is with XX

M

Midland

Senior Member
Japanese and Japan
Good morning!

Please tell me what "This (or that ...) is how it is with somebody" means and how it is used.

Literally, I kind of understand what it means but don't exactly know how I can use it.

Is it an expression to describe your routine life or something you do routinely?

Thank you,

Midland
 
    • Midland, it would be helpful to have some context. Where and under what circumstances did you hear or read this phrase?

    This phrase is not something I've heard. The closest I can come is "That's just how it is" meaning don't argue about it, that's just the way things are. That doesn't sound like what you're referring to, though, so amplification on your part is needed.
     
    Hello Midland,

    "This is how it is with him" is a phrase that means the person is very stuborn/exact/set in his views about things. The person saying "this is how it is with him" knows the person well enough to know how he would react to certain situations, what the person's point of view is, what he thinks about things etc

    For example:

    My boss doesn't mind people being late for work - this is how it is with him - he understands that the roads are busy and being late is not usually a problem.

    My brother likes everything to be tidy in the house. He can't stand any mess - this is how it is with him - I know my brother well enough to understand this and I don't mess his house up when I visit!!!

    I hope that I have helped you to understand.
     
    Thanks, Dimcl

    Dimcl said:
    Midland, it would be helpful to have some context. Where and under what circumstances did you hear or read this phrase?
    Click to expand...

    I remember hearing this phrase in an American drama. Perhaps, the narrator explains who he is. I don't know which drama because I just heard the narrator saying the phrase while I was skimming through channels.

    The fact that you don't hear it means the phrase is a kind of old fashioned?

    Midland
     
    Thank you, Tresley.

    Tresley said:
    "This is how it is with him" is a phrase that means the person is very stuborn/exact/set in his views about things. The person saying "this is how it is with him" knows the person well enough to know how he would react to certain situations, what the person's point of view is, what he thinks about things etc
    Click to expand...

    As I wrote in my previous message, I hear the phrase in an American drama. And your explanation above helps a lot.

    But Dimcle, who lives in Canada, North America, hasn't heard it. Does that mean the phrase is more used in UK?

    Midland
     
    Midland said:
    Thank you, Tresley.



    As I wrote in my previous message, I hear the phrase in an American drama. And your explanation above helps a lot.

    But Dimcle, who lives in Canada, North America, hasn't heard it. Does that mean the phrase is more used in UK?

    Midland
    Click to expand...


    Ahhhhhhhhhh! My pulse rate has gone down now!

    I can only tell you about about British usage and it is a common expression here.

    I can't speak for the rest of the English-speaking world or just this one person from Canada!

    Sayonara!
     
    This is how it is with this website! You will find English-speaking people who know the expression and you will find people who don't know it!

    This is another way that the expression can be used!
     
    Thank you, Tresley.

    Tresley said:
    This is how it is with this website! You will find English-speaking people who know the expression and you will find people who don't know it!

    This is another way that the expression can be used!
    Click to expand...

    Well, this sure is a very good example of how it is used. I need to go through a situation that is shared by others speaking the same language (or phrase) to live the feeling of the phrase.

    Thanks!

    Midland
     
    I recognized the phrase in this thread immediately, and I live in the US.

    As at least one person has said, it appears to be something that some of us have heard and others have not.

    This is how it is with this phrase! :)

    Gaer
     
    As a native English-speaker, "this one person from Canada" has lived long enough and spoken to enough people to know whether a phrase is common in this part of the world and now that I've been given some context, I'll state the way it would be worded here:

    "That's just how he is" or "That's just him".

    And aren't your fingers tired from holding down the exclamation mark key, Tresley?:p
     
    Midland said:
    Good morning!

    Please tell me what "This (or that ...) is how it is with somebody" means and how it is used.

    Literally, I kind of understand what it means but don't exactly know how I can use it.

    Is it an expression to describe your routine life or something you do routinely?

    Thank you,

    Midland
    Click to expand...
    No, that is not a routine expression, Midlands - but is a description of a particular person - it's used as follows:
    "Leon is always complaining when he has to work, he's spoilt - that's how it is with him".

    It's not a common expression ...

    VL
     
    Thank you, Victoria32

    Victoria32 said:
    No, that is not a routine expression, It's not a common expression ...

    VL
    Click to expand...

    Okay, then, how does it sound when you hear it? I mean, does it sound formal, bookish, old-fashioned, or unique, or does the person using the phrase sound as if he wants to show off, or tries to be different from others, or ????

    Midland
     
    Midland said:
    Thank you, Victoria32



    Okay, then, how does it sound when you hear it? I mean, does it sound formal, bookish, old-fashioned, or unique, or does the person using the phrase sound as if he wants to show off, or tries to be different from others, or ????

    Midland
    Click to expand...
    It is a phrase I have used myself, so it is not too out of the ordinary for me... but each person has their 'idiolect' or characteristic way of speaking - it'snot particularly show-offish to me, but to others it might be. I'd say it is acceptably normal.
     
    I'm familiar with the phrase. I use it more often with things than with people:

    "That's just how it is with Ticketmaster... you pay the 'convenience fee' no matter how inconvenient they make it."

    "That's how it is with interviews. Sometimes they go well and sometimes they don't. You can't let the bad ones discourage you from trying again."

    It sounds informal and friendly. I wouldn't use it with anyone I didn't expect to agree with me on the subject.
     
    Victoria32 said:
    It is a phrase I have used myself, so it is not too out of the ordinary for me... but each person has their 'idiolect' or characteristic way of speaking - it'snot particularly show-offish to me, but to others it might be. I'd say it is acceptably normal.
    Click to expand...
    If you've used it in New Zealand, and I've used it in South Florida, it doesn't sound very regional.

    And I definitely do not use phrases to "show off". ;)

    Gaer
     
    JamesM said:
    I'm familiar with the phrase. I use it more often with things than with people:

    "That's just how it is with Ticketmaster... you pay the 'convenience fee' no matter how inconvenient they make it."

    "That's how it is with interviews. Sometimes they go well and sometimes they don't. You can't let the bad ones discourage you from trying again."

    It sounds informal and friendly. I wouldn't use it with anyone I didn't expect to agree with me on the subject.
    Click to expand...
    Results 1 - 10 of about 43,500 for "that's how it is with"

    I hardly think any phrase that appears so often is unusual!

    Gaer
     
    Many thanks, Victoria32, JamesM and gaer.

    Victoria32 said:
    It is a phrase I have used myself, so it is not too out of the ordinary for me... but each person has their 'idiolect' or characteristic way of speaking - it'snot particularly show-offish to me, but to others it might be. I'd say it is acceptably normal.
    Click to expand...

    JamesM said:
    I'm familiar with the phrase. I use it more often with things than with people:

    It sounds informal and friendly. I wouldn't use it with anyone I didn't expect to agree with me on the subject.
    Click to expand...

    gaer said:
    Results 1 - 10 of about 43,500 for "that's how it is with"
    I hardly think any phrase that appears so often is unusual!
    Click to expand...

    Now the cloud has cleared away! I got the nuance and I think I can use it as appropriately to the situation as possible (I mean in an English conversation on the foreign soil).

    Great help.

    Thanks

    Midland
     
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