be/lie at the bottom of something

be at the bottom of (something)

To be the fundamental cause of something. Stubbornness is at the bottom of every unresolved disagreement.

See also: bottom, of

lie at the bottom of (something)

To be the fundamental cause of something. Stubbornness lies at the bottom of every unresolved disagreement.

See also: bottom, lie, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be at the bottom of something

If something is at the bottom of a situation, it is the real cause of it. Remember that pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes. Note: You can also say that something lies at the bottom of a situation. This decision quite probably lies at the bottom of the colony's current discontent.

See also: bottom, of, something

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

be/lie at the ˈbottom of something

be the basic cause of something: Racist feelings almost certainly lie at the bottom of these recent attacks.

See also: bottom, lie, of, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017