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

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

They lacked creativity in a goalless draw at Hibernian last month, surrendered leads to Motherwell and Celtic, and had to come from two down to rescue a point at bottom side Livingston.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 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

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

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2025

After several minutes, he saw that there was one path and one path only that led to the maiden—starting at bottom left.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady