matter of course
8
4.1
- noun
:
como cuestión de rutina
- I sign these applications as a matter of course.
- accept as a matter of course
The stuff that some people are given as a matter of course in childhood, we don't get.
- The stuff that some people are given as a matter of course in childhood, we don't get.
- I as a matter of course right now am chattering.
- The arrogance of narcissism is pretty universal, so most of them are know it alls as a matter of course, but some are much worse than others.
- Bipartisan part of government, their day-to-day job can be to translate behavioral science into policy as a matter of course.
Examples
-
Students will transfer knowledge and skills across time and across the curriculum as a matter of course.
Academic text (2011) -
The stuff that some people are given as a matter of course in childhood, we don't get.
-
People take it as a matter of course that he has a price.
Academic text (2001) -
No one could be expected to know that as a matter of course.
Fiction book (1990) -
And they must hate, as a matter of course, being without charity or compassion.
Blog text (29) -
Zark seemed to accept that as a matter of course.
Fiction book (1998) -
I would have learned braille as a matter of course.
Academic text (1996) -
The majority of women breastfed their infants as a matter of course.
Academic text (1994) -
Today, young people, Germans and Frenchmen, form friendships across the Rhine as a matter of course.
Academic text (1990) -
I sign these applications as a matter of course.
Synonyms
14
3.7
A result that is sure to happen and cannot be changed
Antonyms
How Expected
Surface Forms
Morphology
The parts 'matter' (a thing) and 'course' (a natural progression) give a plausible literal sense of 'a thing that follows naturally', so a learner who knows the constituents and the frequent phrase 'of course' can often infer the meaning. However, the exact collocational framing 'matter of course' is somewhat idiomatic and formal, so full understanding is not guaranteed without some exposure to the phrase in context.
Etymology
The phrase matter of course may come from the simple image of something following a set course or path, so the matter moves along without surprise. That's why a 'matter of course' means 'expected' or 'normal'.