on n'y peut rien

there's nothing we can do about it

→ on

phrase Rare #42,757

there's nothing we can do about it Here, on means “we” or “people in general,” and y refers to the situation being discussed.

FR: Il pleut, on n'y peut rien.

EN: It's raining; there's nothing we can do about it.

If he's crazy, there's nothing we can do about it!

— Les Visiteurs (1993)

There’s nothing we can do!

— Porco Rosso (1992)

There’s absolutely nothing we can do about it.

— Le Sifflet (2026)

I suppose there’s nothing we can do about it.

Ma'am, there's nothing we can do about it.

— Malèna (2000)

There's nothing we can do about it.

— Reservoir Dogs (1992)