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For example

"it is what it is"

This multi-word statement has no real meaning if read literally (or at best a circular meaning), but it does express a meaning that is meta to its lexical meaning (a sense of helplessness and resignment).

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Related: “Everything is everything” – RegDwighт♦ Apr 21 '12 at 21:56
“C'est la guerre!” is similar. – user20379 Apr 21 '12 at 22:32
I disagree with your assertion that it expresses "a meaning that is meta to its lexical meaning (a sense of helplessness and resignment)". That assertion clutters up the question and makes it difficult to tell what, if anything, you are asking. – jwpat7 Apr 21 '12 at 23:03
@jwpat lexical meaning: "the object of the statement is itself". Actual meaning (arguably): "a sense of helplessness and resignment". I use the term "meta" to indicate that the true meaning is more abstract than the lexical. Can you expand upon your disagreement? – Ben Aston Apr 21 '12 at 23:07
...although I agree with your assertion that it clutters the question. Perhaps the question was unclear in my mind when I asked it. – Ben Aston Apr 21 '12 at 23:12
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2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

Do you mean a word to describe that particular phrase? Or phrases like that in general?

If the latter, then I might suggest idiom.

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Of course, you're right. I suppose the use of idioms is so ingrained in the language I hadn't firmly grasped them as discrete terms of speech. – Ben Aston Apr 21 '12 at 21:59
up vote 8 down vote

You might describe the phrase as a tautology (of the logical variety, not to be confused with a rhetorical tautology). With this phrase in particular, since its function is to remind the speaker or listener of the nature of reality, you might call it a meaningful tautology.

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Thanks - great answer – Ben Aston Apr 21 '12 at 23:09
More like semantic(al) tautology (cf. rhetorical tautology) – Kris Apr 22 '12 at 5:32

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