yes, Virginia
Used to express that something is true, despite skepticism by some people.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Yes, Virginia, magic is real.”
“Yes, Virginia, hard work still pays off in the end.”
“Yes, Virginia, you can actually find a good job without knowing anyone in the company.”
“Yes, Virginia, it is possible to travel across the entire country on a very tight budget if you plan carefully.”
“Yes, Virginia, even the most successful people feel nervous before they have to speak in front of a large crowd.”
“Yes, Virginia, despite the cynical nature of our modern world, genuine acts of selfless kindness still occur every single day.”
first recorded 19th c.
From a celebrated line in an editorial on September 27, 1897, by the American journalist Francis Pharcellus Church (1839–1906) in The Sun newspaper published in New York City, in response to eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon asking whether Santa Claus was real: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.”
Last updated August 10, 2026