as it were 好像是，可以說是，換句話說：
He is my best friend, my brother, as it were. 他是我最好的朋友，也可以說是我的兄弟。

as it is [was]
(1)實際上，實際情況是：
I hoped things would get better, but as it is they are getting worse. 我本來是希望情況會變好的，可照現在的樣子看，情況是越來越糟。
(2)已經，早就是：
Just keep quiet—you’re in enough trouble as it is. 不要吵鬧，你們惹的麻煩已經不少了。