at bottom

A

at bottom

Meaning

• to the core of the object
• at the last step of the way, the truth being revealed
• what something means, fundamentally
• the crux of the matter
• in actuality
• basically, fundamentally; also, in reality

Example Sentences

1. At bottom she is her father’s daughter. No matter how much the family curses him, she will always be on his side.
2. The fact that she is so crude in her behaviour shows that at bottom she has a pure heart.
3. My grandmother left all her wealth for charity. She may have been grumpy in her final years but at bottom had a soft heart.
4. To be an honest person with integrity is what matters at bottom.
5. I cannot even believe that she was so cruel at bottom, she always spoke so well and politely.
6. He said mean things to his mother during the heat of the moment but when she started feeling ill he came straight back to her. At bottom, blood is thicker than water.
7. I feel like I am missing something at bottom here, the riddle can’t be this difficult and time consuming to solve otherwise.
8. She speaks somewhat bluntly but those who know her say that she’s always honest at bottom.

Origin

The literary origin of this phrase cannot be traced accurately.