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