au fond

Yet these too, with all their sympathy and suavity and sweet reasonableness, are policemen au fond.

Title story, waste verbiage at the start, ridiculous to put all this camouflage over something au fond merely an idea.

He expressed it as his intention to attack most vigorously (au fond), and asked for my best support, which I promised to give.

Joffre was full of enthusiasm, and very hopeful of success if we all fulfilled our respective rles and attacked au fond.

Quant au fond de la question, however, I am still in doubt and wait for the light of further reflexion to settle my opinion.