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

With Rangers held to a 2-2 draw at bottom club Livingston and defending champions Celtic beaten at home by Hibernian on Sunday, Hearts boss Derek McInnes must have been watching on with a big grin.

From BBC

But at bottom the document is oddly unrealistic about the world’s threats.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tell us about it in the form at bottom or join the conversation below.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From Salon

“I do think I am very direct but at bottom, my style reflects the fact that I want to win and the Court to step into the shoes of the party I am representing.”

From Seattle Times