Cool MateLife just be that way vs What can you do
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Life just be that way
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
What can you do
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: What can you do
| Life just be that way | What can you do | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //laɪf dʒʌst bi ðæt weɪ//🇺🇸 //laɪf dʒʌst bi ðæt weɪ// | 🇬🇧 //wɒt kæn jʊ duː//🇺🇸 //wɑt kæn ju du// |
| Meaning | Sometimes things happen and we can't change them. | A question asking about possible actions or options. |
| Example | When I lost my job, I told myself, 'Life just be that way.' | When we plan our trip, I want to ask, 'What can you do?' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | be that way, sometimes life, accept that life | ask what you can do, discuss what you can do, find out what you can do |
| Common mistakes | Using in overly formal contexts., Misunderstanding its passive acceptance as negativity., Confusing it with similar phrases, leading to unintended meanings. | Omitting 'can' and saying 'What you do?', Confusing with 'What you can do?' which is less natural., Using it in overly formal situations. |
| Usage notes | Used to express acceptance of a situation, often with a sense of resignation. Common in everyday conversation, but may not be used in formal writing. | Use in informal conversations to ask for suggestions or options. Suitable for both spoken and written contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Life just be that way vs What can you do
What's the difference between Life just be that way and What can you do?
Life just be that way: Sometimes things happen and we can't change them. What can you do: A question asking about possible actions or options.
Which is more common: Life just be that way and What can you do?
What can you do is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Life just be that way: When I lost my job, I told myself, 'Life just be that way.' What can you do: When we plan our trip, I want to ask, 'What can you do?'
Can I use Life just be that way and What can you do interchangeably?
Not always. Life just be that way and What can you do are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.