Get to the bottom of something

usgb
phrase

To find the root cause or primary source of a problem, inconsistency, or mystery.

The management wants to get to the bottom of the issue before making a decision.
Visual representation of "get to the bottom of something" - To find the root cause or primary source of a problem, inconsistency, or mystery

Often appears as...

  • get to the bottom of the problem
  • get to the bottom of the issue

Usage tips

Idiomatic

Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "get to the bottom of something"
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Investigation figurative

The phrase often implies a thorough, determined search, rather than literally digging or looking underneath something.

Illustration for Investigation figurative
The detective promised to get to the bottom of the disappearance.
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Metaphorical usage

Used metaphorically, it means uncovering layers of information or complexity to find the truth.

Illustration for Metaphorical usage
Journalists need to get to the bottom of the scandal.
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Problem-solving context

Commonly used when someone is trying to solve a problem by finding the cause.

Illustration for Problem-solving context
Our tech team is working to get to the bottom of the outage.
Visual representation of the word "Get to the bottom of something"

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