fait accompli

A thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it.

• (no common derivatives)

• present as fait accompli
• a political fait accompli
• accept as fait accompli
• confront with a fait accompli

1. 1.The merger was presented to employees as a fait accompli — no one had been consulted. (done deal)
2. 2.By building the factory before seeking permits, they tried to make it a fait accompli. (irreversible action)

• done deal /ˈdʌn diːl/ (finalized agreement, informal)
• accomplished fact /əˈkɒmplɪʃt fækt/ (established reality)

French for "accomplished fact" — fait (fact/deed) + accompli (accomplished) — already done, cannot be undone