Since it began five years ago, this dispute has been called a matter of pride.

Two officials called the dispute a serious matter but said it did not appear likely to delay or block the trial.

The city calls the whole thing a simple matter of Parks Department policy.

He declined to give details, calling it a peripheral matter.

Through the day, the police gave few details about what had happened, calling it a matter under investigation.

The court called the veil a matter of "personal and religious freedom."

Reed, reached yesterday, would not say who was involved in the shouting, calling it an internal matter.

They refused to intervene, calling the dispute a civil matter.

He refused to call the disagreement a religious matter.

Nieh said, 'What would you call a small matter, then?