when you get right down to it; as for the cause; originally
Used to trace back to the root cause or original reason for a situation, often implying that the speaker is pointing out the fundamental source of a problem or outcome.
When you get right down to it, the cause is that you were late.
元はと言えば、私が言い出したことだから、責任を感じている。
Originally, it was something I proposed, so I feel responsible.
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
Kana-only spelling; common in casual writing.
A set phrase composed of 元 (origin) + は (topic marker) + と (quotative) + 言えば (conditional of 言う, 'to say'). Literally 'if one says as for the origin', it is used idiomatically to mean 'when it comes to the cause' or 'originally'.