a matter of

idiom

—used to refer to a small amount

It cooks in a matter of (a few) minutes.

The crisis was resolved in a matter of a few hours.

The ball was foul by a matter of inches.

—used to say that one thing results from or requires another

Learning to ride a bicycle is a matter of practice.

His success was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

It's only a matter of time before/until we catch him.

—used to explain the reason for something

She insists on honesty as a matter of principle.

All requests for free tickets are turned down as a matter of policy.

Examples of a matter of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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This is the second round of job cuts at the automaker within a matter of months. —

Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 15 Nov. 2024 Mexico sent nearly half a million barrels of crude oil and diesel in a matter of days. —

Carmen Sesin, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024 Roberts argues that getting sound answers in unexplained deaths is a matter of public health and safety. —

Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2024 More than a matter of legal obligation, this is a strategic necessity for maintaining trust, fairness and effectiveness. —

Raunak Bhandari, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for a matter of