bottom line

the bottom line

1. Literally, the final figure on a statement showing a person or company's total profit or loss. What is the bottom line for this quarter?
2. By extension, the most important aspect of something. You have all made compelling arguments, but the bottom line is that we need a viable, cost-effective solution, and I still don't think we've found one yet.
3. Profit or the desire for profit as an ultimate goal. These large corporations are only driven by the bottom line. They couldn't care less whether their product is durable.
See also: bottom, line
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bottom line

 
1. Lit. the last figure on a financial profit-and-loss statement, or on a bill. What's the bottom line? How much do I owe you? Don't tell me all those figures! Just tell me the bottom line.
2. Fig. the result; the final outcome. I know about all the problems, but what is the bottom line? What will happen? The bottom line is that you have to go to the meeting because no one else can.
See also: bottom, line
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

bottom line

The ultimate result, the upshot; also, the main point or crucial factor. For example, The bottom line is that the chairman wants to dictate all of the board's decisions, or Whether or not he obeyed the law is the bottom line. This is an accounting term that refers to the earnings figures that appear on the bottom (last) line of a statement. It began to be transferred to other contexts in the mid-1900s.
See also: bottom, line
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

bottom line

The ultimate result; the most important element. The term comes from accounting, where the bottom line of a financial statement shows the earnings figures. In the mid-twentieth century, the term began to be transferred to the outcome of any kind of undertaking, and soon afterward it was extended to mean the crux of any problem or the consequences of any issue. It is well on its way to becoming a cliché.
See also: bottom, line
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • literally
  • denial
  • a non-denial denial
  • at the buzzer
  • buzzer
  • (the) survival of the fittest
  • beat the daylights out of
  • beat the hell out of
  • beat the living daylights out of someone
  • beat/scare the daylights out of somebody
References in periodicals archive
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BOTTOM LINE: McKesson leads in the number of contracts sold for the second straight year.
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Bottom line: Shawn Crawford, who shares meet record of 9.88 with Justin Gatlin, entered in 200 so 100 mark should be safe, but race for win wide open.
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Bottom line: There's no good evidence that Airborne can protect you from catching a cold.
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Bottom Line: Beal is at the helm of the sixth-largest black-owned investment bank with more than $42 billion in managed issues for 2005.
75 most powerful blacks on wall street: whether they're in investment banking, sales and trading, asset management, or private equity, these power players move the financial markets
Written to showcase "how today's best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environment success and how you can too," The Triple Bottom Line seems to successfully achieve its goal.
Tripling your bottom line
In response to the need for better measurement of diversity results, Digh notes companies have developed systems that can help to calculate the business rationale for diversity efforts and their impact on the bottom line. Within the framework of commitment from the top and a company-wide appreciation and acceptance of differences, one suggested approach is to create a new balance sheet that examines and accounts for human contributions to profitability, financial performance and productivity.
Creating an environment for global diversity: global diversity in the workplace is not just a human resources issue, but a business strategy that embraces many elements. Here's how 10 multinationals are successfully managing the process
There is a path by which CEOs can lead their metalcasting businesses to much higher levels of success and profitability, and it begins with the elemental understanding that bottom line profits are far more important than volume and top line revenues.
Another perspective on productivity
Brown believes the single "knitting" factor that defines the company is its focus on a "double bottom line," consisting of both a profitable bottom line and a social bottom line focused on such areas as education, the arts and civil rights.
Living the vision: Atlanta Life Financial marks its 100th anniversary in serving African Americans and other Southeastern U.S. customers
Part of that will be the literal price tag--the enormous cost of compliance, which is taking a huge bite out of companies' bottom lines. Eugene McGrath, CEO of New York utility Con Edison, said Sarbox cost $2 million to $3 million to the bottom line "just to pay the extra accountants and all the attorneys to watch over everything we did." He added that, on a more positive note, the company's stakeholders will have assurance that the company is run ethically.
Unintended consequences: it was meant to help, but Sarbox is wreaking havoc on the bottom line. Will CEOs take it laying down--or push back?
Bottom line: Expect the capacity of tape cartridges to increase faster than disk drives for at least the next five years.
Tape storage growth surprisingly optimistic: tape has weathered the economic storm ... the sky looks clear
THE BOTTOM LINE Just be yourself--and let him be himself.
Cute boys ahead. Now what? Want more boy attention? Fine-tune your crush skills here