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

But, despite gaining the regulatory upper hand, Deliveroo still has the small matter of appeasing its group of increasingly frustrated riders. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 14 Mar. 2024

Eight years and the small matter of a global pandemic later, how realistic does that original goal seem? Dr. Priscilla Chan: Thank you so much for having me. —Fortune Editors, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2023

And then there’s the small matter of China’s domination of the EV supply chain… Dominic Pino: Sierra Dawn McClain of the Wall Street Journal rode along with a California truck driver in an electric big rig. —Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 7 Jan. 2024

Then there is the small matter of clouds, Which make tracks over the hill in a smoke Of white, as though instructed By their superiors to break camp. —Colm Tóibín, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2022

There was also the small matter that both groups were managed by Lou Pearlman, signed to Jive Records, and produced by Max Martin. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2024

Though there is the small matter of Apple’s regular-as-clockwork iPhone launch in early to mid-September to be factored in as well. —David Phelan, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024

Oh, and then there was the small matter of Michael having to remain in heavyweight champ size while also training with the other fighters in the film. —Elizabeth Raposo, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Jan. 2024

There’s also the small matter of modest range, with the SQ8 rated at 253 miles with the smaller 20-inch wheels, a penalty of up to 47 miles compared to the standard Q8 e-tron. —Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 18 Jan. 2024