英英释义：to be the main reason for something or the most basic part of something
“boil down to”是个出现频率很高的实用表达，可以用在口语和写作中。它的意思是“一个问题的主要原因是、归根结底是”，如同熬一锅汤，煮时间长了水分就会减少，只留下最重要最本质的东西。当我们想表示一个事件的本质时，就可以用到它。
和 boil down to 类似的常见同义表达是 come down to
sentence
1. The problem boils down to one thing: lack of money. (这里的冒号也可以换成破折号，或者也可以直接说成 The problem boils down to lack of money.
2. Ultimately, who we are boils down to our choices.
3. Big, sweeping life changes really boil down to small, everyday decisions.
4. 我们在口语中可以常用 It all boils down to 这个简单句型，表示“归根结底就一件事儿“
It boils down to one thing: who you know in this business.
It boils down to one question: do you really want to learn English well?
It boils down to a simple question: do you really love me?
5. The question will always boil down to: who pays for the extra cost, and takes the initial risk? （来自《经济学人》，在讨论市场机制、监管等话题的文章中直接使用）
practice
这场争论归根结底是伦理问题而不是法律问题。
The dispute all boils down to moral, not law, issue.
参考翻译：The argument boils down to ethics rather than laws.
