the facts of life

the facts of life

1. Something unpleasant that must be accepted because it cannot be changed. Gloomy, rainy days are just one of the facts of life when you live in England.
2. euphemism Lessons about sex, such as are typically taught to children or young adults. My mom talked to me about the facts of life this morning—it was so mortifying!
See also: fact, life, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the facts of life

 
1. Euph. the facts of sex and reproduction, especially human reproduction. (See also .) My parents told me the facts of life when I was nineyears old. Bill learned the facts of life from his classmates.
2. Fig. the truth about the unpleasant ways that the world works. Mary really learned the facts of life when she got her first job. Tom couldn't accept the facts of life in business, so he quit.
See also: fact, life, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

facts of life

Knowledge of sexual reproduction, as in Some people feel that the facts of life should not be taught in school. [Late 1800s] Also see birds and the bees.
See also: fact, life, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

the facts of life

information about sexual functions and practices, especially as given to children or teenagers.
See also: fact, life, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the ˌfacts of ˈlife

the facts about sex, how babies are born, etc., especially when told to children: When do you think you should tell your children the facts of life?
See also: fact, life, of
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

facts of life

1. n. an explanation of human reproduction, especially as presented to a child. No one ever explained the facts of life to me. I read books about it.
2. n. the truth about life’s difficulties. You had better face up to the facts of life and get a job.
See also: fact, life, of
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • come to a bad end
  • come to a bad/sticky end
  • have no stomach for something
  • have the stomach for
  • be tainted by (something)
  • in for
  • be in for
  • be in for something
  • have an accident
  • learn (something) the hard way
References in periodicals archive
The biggest irony of all is that the public schools actually did follow Kroger Babb's example and start showing sex-education films not unlike The Facts of Life: An Explanation of Sex Cycles.
Kroger Babb's roadshow: how a long-running movie walked the thin line between exploitation and education
I try to say it in the facts of life - one way or the other, whether it's the fact of my life or somebody else's.
Cliches are always made to the facts of life. They say them all over the world in different languages.
So these are the facts of life. Repeat each one as above.
The wisdom of the blues - defining blues as the true facts of life: an interview with Willie Dixon
But the 48-year-old father-of-two, who teaches creative writing at Nottingham Trent University, said The Facts of Life had enabled him to take his writing into a new place.
"The Facts of Life is an investigation into the character of the people of Coventry and I tried to write about what makes Coventry people the way they are.
PEOPLE can meet Graham Joyce at Waterstones, Broadgate, at 6pm on Thursday, December 19 and The Facts of Life will also be on sale at Coventry Tourist Information Centre, Bayley Lane.
Coventry inspires a character revelation; LOCAL AUTHOR FINDS INSPIRATION ON HOME GROUND FOR HIS LATEST NOVEL FOCUSING ON THE CHARACTER OF CITY FOLK
I got the role of "Cousin Geri" on The Facts of Life by being in the right place at the right time.
I pretty much assumed The Facts of Life would never end.
Although doing the show didn't turn out to be a springboard into the entertainment industry, that week of work was one of the most rewarding weeks I have ever had, even better than working on The Facts of Life. I did 21 Jump Street as an adult and as an artist, and I went into it with my eyes open - knowing that I might not work again for another three years.
Geri Jewell: learning "the facts of life"
Health Minister Yvette Cooper said yesterday that dads were often less able than mums to explain the facts of life.
Fathers to help sons in sex lessons
Sternfeld's deadpan (deadly, panoramic) approach in the series, titled "On This Site ...," becomes a subtle collision/collusion in which esthetic beauty torques against the facts of life.
Haunting grounds: Joel Sternfeld's crime sights
He said: "I thought the facts of life were connected to this thing that was happening to me."
Brothers abused me says Gabriel