so war das

that's how it was

→ so
phrase Uncommon #21,072
that's how it was Can also express recognition or confirmation, especially with emphasis.
GE: Nach dem Regen sah der Garten so aus. So war das gestern auch.
EN: The garden looked like this after the rain. That’s how it was yesterday too.

So war das früher.

That's how it used to be.

So war das wirklich nicht geplant!

That was definitely not the plan!

— Inception (2010)

Aber so war das nicht.

But that’s not how it was.

— Indian Love Story - Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

Richtig, so war das gemeint.

That's right, that's what was meant.

So war das also.

So that's how it was.

— Arrietty - Die wundersame Welt der Borger (2010)

So war das nicht geplant.

That wasn't the plan.

— Atlantis - Das Geheimnis der verlorenen Stadt (2001)

So war das.

That's how it was.

— GoodFellas (1990)

Genau so war das.

That's exactly how it was.

— Der Junge und der Reiher (2023)

So war das doch gar nicht.

That's not how it was at all.

— Paddington 2 (2017)

So war das schon immer, Doktor Di Cosimo.

It’s always been that way, Dr. Di Cosimo.

— Der Postmann (1994)

So war das immer.

That's how it always was.

So war das!

So that's how it was!

— Manons Rache (1986)

So war das damals.

That’s how it was back then.

So war das nicht.

That’s not how it was.

— A Taxi Driver (2017)