sure

Das wäre aber die Übersetzung von "Es ist, was es ist."

Es ist, wie es ist: That's the way it is.

für
"Things are what they are" gibt's bei google 200000 hits...

one can say pretty much anything here, seeing how there's no context: that's how it is; that's what it is; that's what it be like; that's just the way it is; etc.

(I don't believe that Marco's "It is what it is" is one of the possibilities though.)

why? did Marco whisper something in your ear?

@dude: No, of course not. Only I can't imagine the circumstances under which the "wie" here could be translated as "what". Maybe I'm overlooking something simple. In which case, be so good as to enlighten me.

@Phillipp: since there is zero context, anything is possible, even perhaps a situation to which a German might say "es ist wie es ist," while an American might just say "it is what it is." Maybe a Brit would say something different. :-)

(c) Douglas Adams ;-)

@El Tocino: thank you so much for your always entertaining and ever so insightful contributions. :-)

It's all in a day's work, mate. All in a day's work. ;-)

Well, yeah, but ... I believe that form of argument's called petitio principii ;-)

@dude: Agreed.
although
@Phillipp: First, I liked yours best. It seemed just right.
and
@Bacon [de]: A glimmer of humour towards the end of the work day always welcome.

(#13 was in response to #9.)

a logical fallacy? Far be it from me, Phillipp!

Just call it obfuscation ;-)