matter
noun uk/ˈmæt.ər/ us/ˈmæt̬.ɚ/
(SITUATION)
B2 [ C ]事情，事件
a situation or subject that is being dealt with or considered
Could I talk to you about a personal matter? 我能和你谈件私事吗？
Allen denied any knowledge of the matter. 艾伦否认对此事知情。
Please phone me back - it's a matter of some importance. 你能给我回电话吗——有比较重要的事。
Talking about the world's problems is one thing, but solving them is another matter altogether (= is completely different). 谈论世界所面临的问题是一回事，而解决它们却完全是另一回事。
matters[ plural ] （正在处理或考虑的）问题
the situation being dealt with or being discussed
Her resignation is not going to help matters. 她的辞职无助于解决问题。
to make matters worseB2 使情况更糟的是
used to say that something has made a bad or difficult situation worse
Three of our players were ill, and to make matters worse, our main scorer had broken his ankle. 我们的3名队员病了，更糟的是，主要得分手摔断了脚踝。
be a matter of confidence, luck, waiting, etc.C2 只需信心／运气／等待等
If something is a matter of confidence, luck, waiting, etc. that is all you need for it to happen.
Baking a cake isn't difficult - it's just a matter of following the recipe. 烤蛋糕并不难——只需照着烹饪指南做就行。
be no laughing matterC2 需严肃对待的事，不是开玩笑的事
to be very serious and not a situation that people should joke about
Being arrested by the police is no laughing matter. 被警方逮捕可不是开玩笑的事。
- More examples
- It's all right working with him, but living with him would be a different matter altogether.
- The government decided to hold a public enquiry into the matter.
- The whole matter is further complicated by the fact that Amanda and Jo refuse to speak to each other.
- This is a matter of great concern to the general public.
- You're not going to help matters by lying there sobbing!
(PROBLEM)
the matterA2 [ S ] 麻烦事，问题；毛病
the reason for pain, worry, or a problem
What's the matter? Why are you crying? 怎么了？你为什么哭？
What's the matter with your hand? It's bleeding. 你的手怎么了？都流血了。
Is anything the matter? 有什么麻烦吗？
I don't know what the matter is with the car, but it won't start. 我不知道这车出了什么毛病，但就是发动不起来。
(SUBSTANCE)
[ U ]物质
physical substance in the universe
Some scientists believe that there is about ten times as much matter in the universe as astronomers have observed. 有些科学家认为，宇宙中的物质约有天文学家所观测到的10倍之多。
[ U ]（某一类）物质
a substance of a particular kind
Most vegetable matter is compostable. 绝大部分蔬菜都可以用作堆肥。
There's no waste matter left over. 没有任何浪费的东西剩下。
(TYPE)
C2 [ U ]（某一类）物品
a substance or things of a particular type
advertising/printed matter 广告材料／印刷品
Do you find the subject matter of the book (= the subject that the book deals with) interesting? 你觉得这本书的主题内容有趣吗？
(SMALL AMOUNT)
C2 [ S ]（表示数量或时间之少）大约，左右
used in expressions describing how small an amount or period of time is
The interview was over in a matter of minutes. 采访约几分钟就结束了。
She complained he had short-changed her, but it was only a matter of a few pence. 她说他少找她钱了，其实只差了几便士而已。
Idioms More idioms
as a matter of courseidiom C1 （作为）理所当然的事；（当作）常规
If something is done as a matter of course, it is a usual part of the way in which things are done and is not special.
Safety precautions are observed as a matter of course. 安全防范措施作为常规检查进行。
as a matter of factidiom 说真的（表示在刚刚说的基础上在加一点）
used to add something more to what you have just said
The shoes are still stylish, and as a matter of fact , I'm wearing a pair right now. 这样的鞋子还是很时髦的，说真的，我现在脚上就穿着一双。
事实上（表示不同意别人刚刚所说的，或是事实刚好相反）
used to say that you do not agree with what someone has just said or that the opposite of what they say is true
We're not losing population in our town. As a matter of fact, people are moving in. 我们的镇子没有出现人口流失，事实上，人们正在搬到这里来。
be (only) a matter of timeidiom C1 （只）是个时间问题，是迟早的事
If it is (only) a matter of time until something happens, it is certain to happen but you do not know when it will happen.
It's only a matter of time before he's forced to resign. 他被迫辞职只是迟早的事。
be a matter of life and/or deathidiom C2 是生死攸关的事
to be very serious
And if you miss the bus, well, it's not a matter of life and death. 如果你错过了公共汽车，也不是什么大不了的事。
be a matter of opinionidiom 看法因人而异，见仁见智
If something is a matter of opinion, different people have different opinions about it.
Both performances were excellent; it's simply a matter of opinion as to whose was better. 两场演出都很精彩，哪场更好不过是见仁见智的事。
be a matter of recordidiom 是有案可查的事情，是公认的事
If a fact is a matter of record, it is generally known to be true.
for that matteridiom （表示递进）而且
used to show that a statement is true in another situation
Ming's never been to Spain, or to any European country for that matter. 明从未去过西班牙，而且没去过欧洲任何国家。
the matter in handidiom UK (US the matter at hand) 处理中的事，手头上的事
the subject or situation being considered
Do these figures have any bearing on the matter in hand? 这些数字和手头上的事情有关系吗？
no matteridiom mainly UK 不要紧，无关紧要
it is not a problem
"I don't have that form with me." "No matter - here's another." “我没带那张表格。”“不要紧──这儿还有一张。”
no matter what, when, why, etc.idiom B2 不管什么／何时／为什么等
used to emphasize that something is always true, or that someone must do something
I never seem to lose any weight, no matter how hard I try. 不管我怎么努力，体重似乎都减不下来。
We've got to get to the airport on time, no matter what. 总之，我们必须按时到机场，不管用什么办法。
take matters into your own handsidiom 亲自处理问题
to deal with a problem yourself because the people who should have dealt with it have failed to do so
When the police failed to catch her son's murderer, she decided to take matters into her own hands. 警方没能抓到杀害她儿子的凶手，于是她决定自己来解决此事。
that's a matter of opinionidiom （用于表示不同意他人观点）个人看法会有所不同
said to show that you do not agree with something that has just been said
"Anyway, she's a wonderful mother." "That's a matter of opinion." “不管怎么说，她是个很棒的母亲。”“那是你个人的看法。”
matter
verb [ I ] uk/ˈmæt.ər/ us/ˈmæt̬.ɚ/
B2 要紧，重要，有关系
to be important, or to affect what happens
We were late but it didn't seem to matter. 我们迟到了，不过看来不要紧。
"What did you say?" "Oh, it doesn't matter." “你说什么？”“哦，没什么要紧的。”
[ + question word ] It doesn't matter what you wear - just as long as you come. 只要你来，穿什么都没关系。
[ + that ] It didn't matter that our best player was injured after ten minutes - we still won. 我们最好的球员比赛开始10分钟就受伤了——但这无碍大局，我们还是赢了。
I know Charles doesn't think this project is important, but it matters to me. 我知道查尔斯并不看重这个项目，但它对我来说很重要。
- More examples
- Oh just put it anywhere - it doesn't matter where.
- Her health is what matters - the cost of the treatment is of secondary importance.
- It's the sum total of what you eat over a long period that matters and not what you consume in a day.
- The only thing that matters is that the baby is healthy.
- It doesn't matter if you fail, just do your best.