roll with it

English

Verb

roll with it (third-person singular simple present rolls with it, present participle rolling with it, simple past and past participle rolled with it)

1. (idiomatic, slang) To deal with or accept unexpected changes or setbacks and cope with them.
   • 1995, Commission on Global Governance (editor), Issues in Global Governance:Papers Written for the Commission on Global Governance, page 241:

     The United States, it has been said, is the fat boy in the canoe, and when it rolls, everyone else rolls with it.

   • 1995, Oasis (lyrics and music), “Roll With It”, in (What's the Story) Morning Glory?:

     You've gotta roll with it, / You gotta take your time, / You gotta say what you say, / Don't let anybody get in your way.

   • 2000, Kamila Shamsie, Salt and Saffron:

     Why can't we roll with it; see where time and tide take us?

   • 2005, Chris Cleave, Incendiary, A Novel, page 164:

     But the entire planet isn't in its right mind since May day so for pity's sake let's just roll with it.

   • 2009, Larry Elder, What's Race Got to Do with It?, Why It's Time to Stop the Stupidest Argument in America, page 255:

     My cousin, being a consummate professional, rolled with it and interviewed Jesse.

   • 2017, Jill Ehrenreich-May, Sarah M. Kennedy, Jamie A. Sherman, Emily L. Bilek, Brian A. Buzzella, Shannon M. Bennett, David H. Barlow, Unified Protocols for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents, Therapist Guide, page 26:

     Resistance can also be met by rolling with it instead of opposing it. There is a paradoxical element in this, which often will bring the client back to a balanced or opposite perspective.

   • 2017 October 27, Alex McLevy, “Making a Killing: The Brief Life and Bloody Death of the Post-Scream Slasher Revival”, in The A.V. Club‎^[1], archived from the original on 5 March 2018:

     Thinking something is smart when it’s not is a far worse look for a film than just admitting the stupidity of it all and rolling with it.

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with roll with, which has a different meaning.