He is as it were a walking dictionary.的意思是:他可以說是壹部活字典。
as it were 可以替換成 so to speak
as it is的意思是:實際上,事實上,依照當時的情況
I thought things would get better, but as it is ,they are getting worse.的意思是:我以為事情會變好,但事實上,卻變得更糟了。