bottom of the barrel

Idioms and Phrases

The least desirable, the dregs, as in The nominating committee had trouble finding candidates; they were settling for the bottom of the barrel . The phrase often occurs in scrape the bottom of the barrel , meaning “to use the least desirable elements” (because one has no choice), as in Bringing up that minor legal point proves that you're scraping the bottom of the barrel . This metaphor for the sediment left by wine in a barrel was already used by Cicero to describe the lowest elements of Roman society. [First half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

People are having to scrap the bottom of the barrel of optimism right now.

From BBC

Lal was at the bottom of the barrel, the last-string receiver on the freshman B team.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is a result of malign neglect from public officials, electeds, different agencies of the city, the mayor. This is why Watts continues to be at the bottom of the barrel and continues to experience abject poverty.”

From Los Angeles Times

Another witness for the plaintiff, industrial hygienist Stephen Petty, said that N95 masks would be “bottom of the barrel” protection for engineered stone dust.

From Los Angeles Times

He is the bottom of the barrel and some politicians absolutely love it.

From Salon

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