close the matter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close the matter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that a discussion or issue has been resolved or concluded. Example: "After reviewing all the evidence, we can now close the matter and move forward with our plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

I nodded, happy to close the matter.

The New York Times - Travel

Crawford is careful not to close the matter.

The Guardian - Books

Sanchez, however, said Friday that the letter does not close the matter.

The Washington Post

He would invite comments, of course, but he hoped to close the matter in the spring of 2014.

The Economist

But before the court could close the matter, a member of the class sought to intervene and object to the settlement.

Harvard University

The House will therefore fumble around for a face-saving compromise: it hopes to censure the president in some way, and so to close the matter.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

What is clear is that the disclosures have not closed the matter.

The New York Times

The city's Conflicts of Interest Board closed the matter without taking action against the deputy chancellor, Christopher Cerf.

The New York Times

In February, the club's board of governors seemed to have closed the matter when it voted to expel Mr. James, his brother and Mr. Leitner.

The New York Times

The Justice Department said the settlement resolves the government's claims against the company, ADS, closing the matter without making a determination of who might be liable.

The Washington Post

It stopped the clock 17 business days later when agency attorneys closed the matter and concluded Todd could not produce the documents.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close the matter" when you want to clearly communicate that a decision has been made, an issue has been resolved, and no further action is required. It's suitable for formal reports, business communications, and legal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "close the matter" in casual conversations or informal writing where it may sound overly formal or authoritative. Simpler phrases like "that's it" or "we're done" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close the matter" functions as a verb phrase used to indicate the completion or resolution of an issue, discussion, or investigation. According to Ludwig AI, it is a grammatically correct phrase. The phrase implies a finality, suggesting that no further action or consideration is required.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "close the matter" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate the resolution or conclusion of an issue. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most frequently found in news and media, academic, and formal business contexts. When aiming to communicate a sense of finality and resolution, using "close the matter" is a very effective way to do it. Related phrases like "resolve the issue" or "conclude the topic" can be used as alternatives, but the specific choice should depend on the context and desired level of formality. Be aware of overusing it in casual conversations where simpler phrases might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conclude the issue

Replaces "close" with "conclude" emphasizing the act of bringing something to an end.

bring it to a close

Similar in meaning, but uses a slightly more formal tone.

resolve the problem

Focuses on finding a solution to a problem, thereby ending its relevance.

settle the question

Implies reaching a final decision or agreement on a particular question or point of discussion.

finalize the deal

Highlights the completion of an agreement or transaction.

end the discussion

Directly refers to stopping a conversation or debate.

terminate the investigation

Specifically refers to ending a formal inquiry.

wrap up the topic

Suggests bringing a subject to a neat and tidy conclusion.

put an end to it

A more general expression for stopping something from continuing.

call it a day

An informal way of saying to stop working on something.

FAQs

What does "close the matter" mean?

The phrase "close the matter" means to bring an issue, discussion, or investigation to a definitive end, indicating that it has been resolved or concluded.

How can I use "close the matter" in a sentence?

You can use "close the matter" to indicate that a decision has been made and no further action is required. For example, "After reviewing the evidence, the committee decided to "close the matter" and move on".

What can I say instead of "close the matter"?

You can use alternatives like "resolve the issue", "conclude the issue", or "settle the question depending on the context".

When is it appropriate to use "close the matter"?

It is appropriate to use "close the matter" in formal or professional settings when you want to communicate that an issue has been definitively resolved and requires no further attention.