Phrasal verb
boil down to
Meanings
to be reduced to a single main idea, reason, or conclusion
Definition
To boil down to means to have something as the main or essential point or result.
If something boils down to something else, it can be reduced to its most basic idea, reason, or result. Speakers use it to summarize a complex situation in a simple way. It often introduces the key point after details or explanations.
Examples
- In the end, the decision boils down to money.
- Our argument boils down to a misunderstanding.
- For me, a good vacation boils down to rest and good food.
- Choosing a laptop often boils down to budget and battery life.
More phrasal verbs
- brush aside To brush aside means to dismiss something as unimportant or ignore it.
- dwell on To dwell on something is to keep thinking or talking about it for too long, especially something un…
- get into To get into something means to enter a place or become involved in an activity or situation.
- scatter into To scatter into means to break up and move in different directions into a place or area.
- set off To set off means to start a journey or to cause something to begin suddenly.