rock bottom
The lowest point
Rock bottom is the lowest possible level or point.
The phrase usually describes a personal crisis—financial ruin, addiction, despair—from which one can only go up: I had to hit rock bottom before I could start rebuilding.
As a modifier, it describes the absolute minimum: rock-bottom prices.
The image is of descending until you strike solid stone beneath.
Supporting bottom structure
- floorIndoor walking surface
- ground zeroExplosion's central impact point
- substratumFoundational layer beneath
- groundworkFoundational preparation for something
underpinning · footing · baseline · minimum · threshold · starting point · foundation · anchor
Legal status when insolvent
- insolvencyInability to pay debts
- collapseSudden structural failure
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
- foreclosureLender seizes mortgaged property
devastation · ruin · catastrophe · failure · lowest point · financial ruin · debt · destitution
State without hope
- desperationUtter loss of hope
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- desolationState of complete emptiness
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
dejection · despondency · bleakness · gloom · darkness · depression · defeat · sorrow
Shift in opposite direction
- comebackRecovery after decline
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
resurgence · renewal · rehabilitation · rebuilding · revival · upswing · bounce back · second chance
base
Supporting bottom structure
- floorIndoor walking surface
- ground zeroExplosion's central impact point
- substratumFoundational layer beneath
groundwork · underpinning · footing · baseline · minimum · threshold · starting point · foundation · anchor · cornerstone
bankruptcy
Legal status when insolvent
- insolvencyInability to pay debts
- collapseSudden structural failure
- meltdownCatastrophic loss of control
foreclosure · devastation · ruin · catastrophe · failure · lowest point · financial ruin · debt · destitution · downfall
hopelessness
State without hope
- desperationUtter loss of hope
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- desolationState of complete emptiness
misery · dejection · despondency · bleakness · gloom · darkness · depression · defeat · sorrow · woe
turnaround
Shift in opposite direction
- comebackRecovery after decline
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- breakthroughSudden important advance
redemption · resurgence · renewal · rehabilitation · rebuilding · revival · upswing · bounce back · second chance · awakening
stone
Solid earth fragment
basalt · quarry · outcrop · sediment · stratum · formation · layer · mineral · cave floor · riverbed
- Hyperbolea zillion, bazillion, gazillion, bajillion, zillion
- bargainsbargain, bargain hunting, discount store, coupon, rebate
- despairdespair, hopelessness, desolation, despondency, dejection
- extremesbest, worst, biggest, smallest, highest
- financial ruinbankrupt, bankruptcy, bust, busted, broke
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
rock bottomcloud nine
State of extreme elation
heyday · prime · high point · golden age · best days
rock bottomall-time high
Maximum ever achieved
sky-high · ceiling · record high · through the roof · price ceiling
rock, bottom, rocks, rocking, bottoms, bedrock, rocked, rocker, bottomless