bottom line meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

bottom line

nounalso spelled bottom-line

Etymology A reference to the literal bottom line of an income statement or other accounting record.

Business The final balance; the amount of money or profit left after everything has been tallied.

Idiomatic The summary or result; the most important information.

The bottom line is that there simply are not enough hours in the day to finish all there is to do.
I need your lovin' and that's the bottom line / I need your lovin' or just a little time1980, Teena Marie, “I Need Your Lovin’”, in Irons in the Fire:

3 more examples

When Gorbachev totals up the balance sheet of Soviet strengths and weaknesses, the bottom line is not encouraging. Moscow has put itself into a unique historical position: It does not have a single ally among the major powers of the world.1988, Richard Nixon, “The Superpowers”, in 1999: Victory Without War, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 38:
The bottom line is this - England have little or no chance of beating quality international sides if they defend as shoddily and carelessly as this, if they give possession away as cheaply as this and are as easy to get at as Kosovo made it look.2019 September 10, Phil McNulty, “'England horribly fallible in defence' against Kosovo in Euro 2020 qualifying”, in BBC Sport:
But the bottom line is that passengers want to see staff at a station and be able to find them easily.2023 July 26, Stefanie Foster, “Rebuild trust or it's game over”, in RAIL, number 988, page 3:

Idiomatic A minimum acceptable result from a negotiation.

verb

Etymology A verbal form of bottom line.

Idiomatic, Informal To set a minimum acceptable rule, boundary, or condition for (someone).

Thanks to Kim, her husband is also living a sober, productive life. When he came to visit her at the hospital one day, she "bottom-lined" him.1987, Engage/Social Action, volume 15, page 33:
The most common mistake a man makes when initiating sex with his woman is "bottom-lining" it. Now, this approach may be good for you in your life, your work, and the way you best communicate. However, when it comes to sex with your woman, you will need to throw this approach out the window.2010, Bree Maresca-Kramer, It's That Simple!, A Man's Book on Relationships, Life, Ourselves and the Healing of It All, page 134:

4 more examples

And in the next breath he said, "And what are you going to do about it?" He "bottom lined" me with those words. I put the cork in the bottle, and this time, I approached sobriety differently.2013, Robert C. Kelly, A Boy Walks Into a Bar, page 122:
If, as you say, your Rik has safeguarded Chinese orphans in the streets, put friends through school, he doesn't sound like a man who walks away. He's a sticker. He isn't finished with something until he bottom lines it.2016, Madelon Smid, High Risk:
In today's verse, we're given the secret to living a life marked by wisdom and blessed by prosperity. David doesn't mince words. He bottom-lines it. And his hope is to take the guesswork out of living right with God.2020, Barbour Staff (compiler), Daily Wisdom for Women, page 24:
"Barn could work if you have a light source or a sunroom off your back porch, " he added hopefully. "What are you thinking?" Huck bottom-lined him.2023, Sinclair Jayne, Marry Me Please, Cowboy:

Idiomatic, Informal To provide a summary or the result; to provide the most important or relevant information.

Anyway, bottom lining it: Sunnis and other extremists are targeting and killing civilians along with Iraqi Security Forces.2012, David Abrams, Fobbit, A Novel:
And then he bottom lines and says the tragedies of the great majority of these deaths can be readily prevented at low cost.2014, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs. Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, The First One Thousand Days, Development Aid Programs to Bolster Health and Nutrition : Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, March 25, 2014, page 15: