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.
At the heart of the matter is actually a question of soccer tactics.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026
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
"We have to overlook those comments and remarks and focus on the heart of the matter which is the humanitarian crisis," he added.
From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025
His eyes narrowed: whether from our long association, or from many dealings with human beings, and whether one kept silent or spoke to cloak one’s thoughts, he always knew the heart of the matter.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
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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.