From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe fact (of the matter) isthe fact (of the matter) isspokenIN FACT used when you are telling someone what is actually true in a particular situation, especially when this may be difficult to accept, or different from what people believe The fact of the matter is that he’s just not up to the job. → fact
Examples from the Corpus
the fact (of the matter) is• And the fact is Jimi just turned me on more than anybody else, for his music.• So parent power does work, but the fact is it shouldn't ever have to come to that.• But the fact is that none of these are visions of what I recognize as life.• But the fact is that the way we live our lives often assumes a belief about them, one way or another.• But the fact is, it never should have come to that.• Doing the sums Knowing the facts is the first priority.• Let's be realistic, the fact is crime does pay.• Yet the fact is that most adolescents are using drugs, and our drug education programs fail to address that reality. 