heart of the matter
IdiomsExample Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The film gets to the heart of the matter quickly and stays there, spreading out to make itself comfortable.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
At the heart of the matter are longstanding rules that cap the number of households one broadcaster can reach.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026
At the heart of the matter are credit-card interchange fees, which merchants pony up when shoppers pay with plastic.
From Barron's • Nov. 10, 2025
The larger issue at the beating heart of the matter is that this is a very cumbersome method of seeking accountability.
From Slate • Oct. 9, 2025
Let me spell out precisely what I mean by that, for the heart of the matter is here, and the root of my dispute with my country.
From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
