Dictionary

matter of course en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) An occurrence that is expected, usual, or taken for granted in a given situation (see Usage notes below): ▸ An outcome or course of events regarded as natural, logical, obvious, or inevitable.
   • York might have known, and very likely did know, how that rein harassed me; but I suppose he took it as a matter of course that could not be helped; at any rate nothing was done to relieve me. [1877], Anna Sewell, “A Strike for Liberty”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part II, page 109:
2. (idiomatic) An occurrence that is expected, usual, or taken for granted in a given situation (see Usage notes below): ▸ Proper or common practice.
   • On some occasions standing ovations may be given to political leaders as a matter of course, rather than as a special honour.
   • In the eyes of Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke the apotheosis of the Celebrity was complete. The people of Asquith were not only willing to attend the house-warming, but had been worked up to the pitch of eagerness. The Celebrity as a matter of course was master of ceremonies. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see matter, of course.
   • but at this point it doesn't really matter, of course
   • that answer doesn't get to the heart of the matter, of course

Forms

Relateds

par for the course · foregone conclusion · matter of fact · unspoken rule · go without saying · matter of routine

Synonyms

habit · protocol · custom · routine · tradition

Translations (20)

hu magától értetődő (expected or customary practice) · es algo natural (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · cmn 理所當然的事 /理所当然的事 (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · cmn 理所當然的事 /理所当然的事 (expected or customary practice) · no selvfølge (expected or customary practice) · ru само собой разумеется (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · pl zwyczajowe zachowanie (expected or customary practice) · no selvfølge (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · fi itsestäänselvyys (expected or customary practice) · fi tavan vuoksi (expected or customary practice) · fi luonnollinen lopputulos (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · da selvfølge (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · es cuestión rutinaria (expected or customary practice) · bg естествен ход (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · pl rzecz naturalna (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · sv självklarhet (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · fi itsestäänselvyys (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome) · hu természetes (expected or customary practice) · da selvfølge (expected or customary practice) · de Selbstverständlichkeit (natural, logical, or inevitable outcome)