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Old 29-Jun-2004, 10:17
zhengl_2000
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Default be that as it may.

I know that "be that as it may" means "Altough" .

But when it appears in a sentence by itself , what does it mean?

A: Almost Everything is on track at our new home , but
they forgot to install the phone.
wife: Be that as it may.
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Old 29-Jun-2004, 19:42
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On it's own, it's a bit strange. Maybe it's a fatalistic expression, but I don'tlikeit much.
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Old 30-Jun-2004, 05:56
zhengl_2000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
On it's own, it's a bit strange. Maybe it's a fatalistic expression, but I don'tlikeit much.

I got it from a book. AE
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Old 30-Jun-2004, 11:57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zhengl_2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
On it's own, it's a bit strange. Maybe it's a fatalistic expression, but I don'tlikeit much.

I got it from a book. AE
Sounds odd to me, too, but, be that as it may, I understand it as meaning, That's life or That's the way life goes or So be it or Oh, well. (In Japanese, it's shouganai! ~ shakataganai! ):D
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Old 01-Jul-2004, 20:45
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Default Re: be that as it may.

Quote:
Originally Posted by zhengl_2000
I know that "be that as it may" means "Altough" .

But when it appears in a sentence by itself , what does it mean?

A: Almost Everything is on track at our new home , but
they forgot to install the phone.
wife: Be that as it may.
It sounds strange to this AE speaker also. Usually, that would be followed by something. Be that as it may, you still have to call home every day. I would define "be that as it may" as "athough that is true".
:wink:
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