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

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

Before all of that, though, there’s the small matter of my third Bruce Springsteen gig this week. —Kris Holt, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024