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the bottom line

Date: Oct 18 2001

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“The bottom line is, you love your wife, you do your best with that.”
- Sean Penn, actor, talking about what is most important in his life.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

the fundamental idea, the most essential thing, the foundation upon which something is built, the most basic and most important idea, the thing of utmost importance
(The bottom line comes from business. When making financial reports, the last line on the paper indicates whether the business is losing money or making money. Thus, the bottom line is the most important thing to the business.)

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

Although the expression comes from business, the bottom line can be used in many different situations. You can use it whenever you need to explain what’s most important. For example, if you are arguing with your parents because they don’t want you to stay out late at night, you can tell them that the bottom line is you’re a good person and won’t get in any trouble. Or, if your sister is sad about something, you could help make her feel better by telling her that the bottom line is you love her.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

””Mom, I know I don’t say this often enough, but the bottom line is I love you. You’re the best mom in the world.”“

””We have to be at Dan’s house by 7:30. I don’t care what happens before then, but the bottom line is we cannot be late.”“

””Your mother and I are leaving now. We’ll be back in 3 days. While we’re gone, the bottom line is that you keep the house clean and you absolutely cannot have any parties!”“

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

The bottom line means the gist or the utmost thing to try to say or present through the statement. The bottom line of this ebaby site about is to learn about good slangs with trying to give a shot for good guess.
by Ji-Hee (Missouri)
In my opinion, the buttom line means: the most basic thing you should do.
by xleeley
The bottom line – I think it means the most important thing is.
by Karen
I think it means, final statement or the main or essential point!
by Amy (South Korea)
The bottom line, it means: most important in life I think.
by Craig
I think “the bottom line” means that the fact you have to accept even you don’t like it. Like the sitcom “Friends” I saw tonight, Ross has been informed that Rachel is pregnant, and the baby’s father is Ross. So Ross has to accept the bottom line.
by Sally

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