scraping the bottom of the barrel
Taking worst options
Scraping the bottom of the barrel means resorting to the least desirable options because better ones are exhausted.
The image is of reaching the dregs after the good stuff is gone: By the third round of interviews, we were scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Often implies desperation or lowered standards: That argument is really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
- settlingReaching resolution or rest
- substandardBelow required quality
- shortageDeficient supply of necessities
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
- inferiorOf lower rank
undesirable · last resort · last ditch effort · slim pickings · depletion · making do · scavenging · grasping at straws · improvising · cheapened · scarcity · at wit's end · running on fumes · mediocre · flawed · dregs · bare bones · overuse
scraping the bottom of the barrelcream of the crop
The very best
crème de la crème · best of the best · top of the line · top-tier · first-rate
scraping the bottom of the barrelcherry-picking
Choosing only supporting examples
scraping the bottom of the barrelspoiled for choice
Having too many options
embarrassment of riches · first pick · overflowing · abundance · tip of the iceberg
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