a matter of

idiom

1

—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.

2

—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.

3

—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

But conversely, up north across the 49th parallel, Trump’s actions have created some solidarity at a time when Trudeau’s Liberal Party has been on the rocks, and it’s felt like only a matter of time before the Conservative Party, led by a quasi-Trumpian Pierre Polievre, would mount a victory. —Talib Visram, TIME, 7 Feb. 2025

In just a matter of days, the clip has gone viral with more than 383,100 views and over 45,300 likes on TikTok at the time of writing. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025

Try to befriend teammates who might become opponents again in a matter of hours? —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025

Snap up the Pure Enrichment Cool Mist Humidifier for just $25 and prepare to breathe easier and enjoy hydrated skin in a matter of days. —Maggie Horton, People.com, 6 Feb. 2025