# what can I say

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/what-can-i-say
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Indicating that nothing that could be said would add to or improve the situation.

## Examples

- I forgot your birthday, what can I say?
- The team lost the game by twenty points, so when the coach asked for an explanation, the captain just shrugged and said, what can I say?
- Faced with the undeniable evidence of his long-standing deception, he offered no elaborate defense, merely sighing as he murmured, what can I say?

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.