is that so
fixed phrase.fixed phrase. a polite way to show you are listening or to express mild surprise at what someone just said.
fixed phrase. a formulaic response used to acknowledge new information or express polite skepticism; it functions as a back-channeling device in conversation.
"I've decided to move to Spain." "Is that so?"
The neighbor mentioned that the old house was finally sold, and I replied, "Is that so?" to keep the conversation going.
Upon hearing the witness's revised testimony, the barrister simply raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Is that so?" with a hint of irony.
the meaning changes based on intonation: a rising tone shows genuine interest, while a falling tone can sound skeptical or bored.
teach this alongside other active listening responses like 'Really?' or 'Indeed' to help students vary their conversational feedback.
Is it so?Is that so?the phrase is a fixed idiom using 'that' as the demonstrative pronoun; 'it' is not used in this specific social formula.