“Be That As It May” acknowledges a point as true or possible while indicating that it does not change the speaker’s main conclusion. This guide stays with the supported present-day meaning and usage boundary and does not infer an unsupported first-use date, inventor, or origin story.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionPhrases & Idioms
Quick answer
“Be that as it may” means roughly “even if that is so, it does not change the main point.”
Key details
Canonical FormBe That As It May
Core Meaningacknowledges a point as true or possible while indicating that it does not change the speaker’s main conclusion
Registerformal
Further guidance
Contextual Examples
The proposal may save time. Be that as it may, it still exceeds the approved budget.
Be that as it may, we need to decide using the evidence available today.
History Boundary
Current dictionary-supported meaning is published without claiming an exact inventor, coinage date, or absolute first use.
Meaning
acknowledges a point as true or possible while indicating that it does not change the speaker’s main conclusion.
Meaning Boundary
The phrase signals concession followed by contrast; it does not necessarily mean the speaker agrees completely with the earlier point.
Practical Use
Use “be that as it may” to acknowledge a point without allowing it to change the main conclusion or next step.
Tone Boundary
It is formal and can sound distancing. In ordinary conversation, “even so” or “still” may be more natural.
Usage Boundary
Cambridge labels the expression formal, so a plainer “even so” or “nevertheless” may fit conversational writing better.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
“Cross that bridge when we come to it” means deal with a possible problem if and when it actually arises instead of worrying about it in advance. An 1851 Longfellow text directly preserves an older negative form and explicitly calls it an old proverb.
The idiom points to an incompatibility: someone wants the benefit of one choice without giving up the conflicting benefit of another. It is often used to expose a trade-off that the speaker thinks cannot simply be avoided.
“I second that” is a compact way to express agreement or support for a statement just made. The phrase connects with the formal verb “second,” used to support a motion in a meeting, but everyday conversational use normally means simply “I agree.”
“It Takes Two to Tango” means that both people in a difficult situation share responsibility, or that an activity requires two willing participants. This guide publishes the current dictionary-supported idiomatic meaning and keeps exact origin, inventor, coinage, and absolute first-use claims unpublished without chronology-grade evidence.
“It’s better to ask forgiveness than permission” expresses a preference for acting first when prior approval might block or delay the action, with the expectation that an apology can come later if necessary. It describes a risk-taking attitude; it is not a rule that removes legal, ethical, safety, or organizational approval requirements.
“Play it by ear” means to decide how to handle a situation as it develops instead of relying on a plan made in advance. The guide explains the current idiomatic meaning without asserting an exact origin date.
A “change of heart” means changing your opinion or feelings about something. The guide establishes the present-day idiom and does not invent an exact coinage or first-use account.
