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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And there’s the small matter of her 16 Grand Slam doubles titles, two of them in mixed. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 29 July 2025 In the short term, there is the small matter of what the BBC will do with Season 21, which was filmed last year and features both Wallace and Torode. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 18 July 2025 With the small matter of a Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York still to come in late September, there is ample opportunity for McIlroy to pen yet more history in 2025. — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 16 July 2025 But before the only agenda for the day involves lazy lunches by the sea, there’s the little matter of the packing list—and if your own plans could use some organizing, why not use our editors’ vacation essentials as your guide? — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 7 July 2025 Well, that, and the small matter of the number of devices that the FreeType software is deployed on across various products, which is more than a billion. — Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025 Now there’s just the small matter of the launch and journey to the asteroid, and the hope that what Odin finds will lead to the riches long touted from asteroid mining. — Jonathan O’Callaghan, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025 Away from spreadsheets, there is also the small matter of a Premier League match against Everton on Saturday with the Merseyside club the in-form side in the division under former United manager David Moyes. — Mark Critchley, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025 Before all of that, though, there’s the small matter of my third Bruce Springsteen gig this week. — Kris Holt, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

Browse Nearby Words

the little man
the little/small matter
the little woman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The little/small matter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20little%2Fsmall%20matter. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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