the little/small matter

noun

—used in an ironic way to refer to a difficult situation or problem

He wants to buy a new car, but first there's the little/small matter of getting enough money to pay for it.

Examples of the little/small matter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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There is the small matter of a U.S. presidential election coming up on November 5, an election that some are calling the most consequential in living memory. —

Dan Berger, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Before then, there’s the small matter of an update to the iPhone SE. —

Ewan Spence, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024 But there is also the small matter of navigating the notoriously difficult Western Conference, which is looking particularly stacked with talent this season. —

Matias Grez, CNN, 9 Oct. 2024 All that while rocking his half-bat-like features like sharp teeth and pointy ears — oh, there’s also the small matter of his need for human blood. —

Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 31 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for the little/small matter

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“The little/small matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20little%2Fsmall%20matter. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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