bottom line

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

• "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 time"
• "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."
• "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."
• "But the bottom line is that passengers want to see staff at a station and be able to find them easily."
• "My bottom line for this job is $125,000; any less and I'll walk away."

• upshot
• net-net

• at bottom
• bottom dollar
• rock bottom