at bottom

Idioms  

1. Fundamentally, basically; also, in reality. For example, He may speak somewhat bluntly, but at bottom he's always honest. Charles Dickens used this idiom in Nicholas Nickleby (1838): “He's a good pony at bottom.” [Early 1700s]

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Example Sentences

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at bottom

Their stories are sometimes convoluted, but at bottom they boil down to the same three elements: salt, wind and water.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

Cole Palmer scored a first half hat-trick as fifth-placed Chelsea won 3-1 at bottom of the table Wolves.

From Barron's ● Feb. 7, 2026

Should leaders Celtic win at bottom club St Johnstone on Sunday, they can wrap up a 13th Premiership title in 14 seasons when they host Kilmarnock next Saturday.

From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2025

Solving specific problems, at bottom, is a matter of logos.

From Salon ● Mar. 15, 2025

He really knew they were air castles, for at bottom he was hard-headed, not easily taken in even by his own exuberant imagination.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes