It's the principle of the matter...

[beggargirl]

Anyone who says "it's the principle of the matter" is probably in the process of being incredibly rude to someone who has little control of the current situation, or is attempting to justify something they've just done, that they know is wrong.

Discuss.

Comments

[vvulfe]

But what if it is a question of principle?

[beggargirl]

Hence the reason I asked for discussion; I realize that this might not always be the case.

The only time I hear this sentence though, is in situations where a red faced man is swearing at a cashier who is almost in tears because the cash register won't give him a ten cent discount on his frozen pork ribs because the coupon he brought in is a year old and for a different brand. However "the customer is always right!" and the cashier is an incompetent bitch who should go back to her own country and be fired after she gives him an apology; and Damnit, he's not leaving until he gets his ten cents because "it's a matter of principle!"

Disclaimer: Hyperbole present in last paragraph

[saeok]

You know, I can't even use that expression without smiling. Usually for me though I'm standing with someone and saying something of the sort "You aren't going to let them do that are you? Consider the principle!" with an evil grin on my face.

[pseudomanitou]

[Abstract art is] a product of the untalented, sold by the unprincipled to the utterly bewildered

[puentos]

You put the "ple" back in "principle"! *cheezy wink*