Definition & Meaning of "bottom line"

Bottom line

NOUN

the amount that was profited or lost in an organization or company after everything was calculated

Idiom

What is the origin of the idiom "bottom line" and when to use it?

The idiom "bottom line" originated in accounting, where it refers to the final figure on a balance sheet that shows the net profit or loss of a business. The phrase is often used to emphasize the importance of focusing on the final outcome or result.

the most important factor in an argument or a discussion that brings it to an end

Idiom

Informal

What is the origin of the idiom "bottom line" and when to use it?

The idiom "bottom line" is thought to have originated from the field of accounting, where it refers to the final line on a profit and loss statement, which represents the net profit or loss of a company over a period of time. Over time, the term "bottom line" came to be used more figuratively to refer to the most important or crucial aspect of a situation or decision.

bottom line