bottom line
333
3.7
- noun
- /ˈbɑːtəm laɪn/
- Informal
:
lo esencial
- The bottom line is that we need to increase our sales to stay in business.
- focus on the bottom line
- just the bottom line
So what now is the practical bottom line of all of this?
- So what now is the practical bottom line of all of this?
- So bottom line then, should you buy this monitor?
- And whether they like it or not, the bottom line is they have to produce a profit.
- But the bottom line is conspiracy theories get clicks.
- You know, I think bottom line is these guys want to succeed.
- So bottom line, should you buy?
- And the the bottom line is that Russia defaulted.
- And bottom line, none of them do what this does.
- But bottom line is do TikTok ads to build the brand.
- It's kind of chaotic, but it's crime free and that's the bottom line the first time.
- And so there is a bottom line as well, but it is more complex.
Examples
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The bottom line is, it's working.
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The bottom line is that you don't shock people by telling them something they already believe.
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So what now is the practical bottom line of all of this?
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So the bottom line is there are ways.
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So again, the bottom line is you got to be real with you.
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But the bottom line is you have to feel it.
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all they care about is the bottom line
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The bottom line is, we're not going to make next week's distribution.
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OK, so the bottom line is highlighted here.
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When it comes to accuracy, the bottom line is to know your own strengths and weaknesses.
Academic text (2003)
Synonyms
43
3.1
A main idea in a talk or report
34
7.5
The main point that decides what matters most in an issue
13
3.9
The most important part of a problem or discussion
4
5.6
The most important part of a problem or discussion
4
4.4
A short statement of the main points at the end of a meeting or court case
1
4.3
A short summary of the main points
1
3.9
A short description of the main points
Antonyms
How Important
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is partly compositional: 'bottom' (lowest) + 'line' evokes the total shown at the bottom of an account, so a learner who knows the words can often infer the financial sense. However, the metaphorical extension to 'the most important outcome' and the reliance on accounting/layout conventions are not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure, making it only partially transparent.
Etymology
Bottom line comes from the image of a page where the final total is written on the bottom line. That last line gave the clear answer, so people now use it to mean the 'most important point' in a situation.