opinion

be a matter of opinion

1. if something is a matter of opinion, different people have different opinions about it. I don't think there is a perfect way to teach a child to read - it's a matter of opinion, really.

2. if you say that something someone has just said is a matter of opinion, you mean that you do not agree. 'She's a wonderful mother.' 'That's a matter of opinion.'

See also: matter

contrary to popular belief/opinion

something that you say before you make a statement that is the opposite of what most people believe. Contrary to popular belief, bottled water is not always better than tap water.

See also: contrary

---

difference of opinion

a disagreement. My father and I had our differences of opinion about the war.

See also: difference

a matter of opinion

the particular belief that someone has about something. Whether the situation has improved is not a matter of opinion — things are much worse than they were before.

See also: matter