hitting bottom
Reaching rock floor
Hitting bottom is reaching the lowest point of a decline, especially in addiction or personal crisis.
The phrase suggests that descent has finally stopped—there's nowhere lower to go: He didn't seek help until he hit bottom.
Often implies a turning point, since hitting bottom can precede recovery.
Also *hit rock bottom* for emphasis.
- crashSudden violent impact
- despairTotal absence of hope
- bankruptUnable to repay debts
- low pointWorst or lowest moment
- abyssImmeasurably profound depth
dead broke · collapse · depths · nadir · broke · ruin · hopeless · surrender · fallen · gutter · empty · last straw · final straw · point of no return · defeated · lowest · scraping · basement
- redemptionredemption arc, redeemed, forgiven, saved, moral redemption
- low pointsnadir, low point, depths, pit, trough
- Alcoholismalcoholism, alcoholic, alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol dependence
- declinedecline, in decline, decrease, downswing, on the decline
- recoveryrecovery, sobriety, rehab, recover, recovery room
- addictionaddiction, drug addiction, substance abuse, drug dependence, substance dependency
hitting bottompeaking
Reaching highest point
topping out · hitting the ceiling · cresting · climaxing · booming
hitting bottomriding high
Experiencing a winning streak
living the dream · thriving · flourishing · hitting the big time · on cloud nine
bottom, hitter, hitters, hitting, bottoms, bottomed, bottoming, bottomless