bottom drawer

[drawr]

noun

British.

1. any drawer used for a hope chest.

bottom drawer

noun

1. US and Canadian equivalent: hope chest. a young woman's collection of clothes, linen, cutlery, etc, in anticipation of marriage

Word History and Origins

Origin of bottom drawer¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Mr Brettell said the ancient citrus fruit was discovered in the bottom drawer of a 19th century chest salvaged during a house clearance.

Read more on BBC

The bottom drawer is for protein, which is good to put on the bottom because if anything drips it’s not going to cross-contaminate anything.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The left of the bottom drawer is all cheese and dairy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I thought, “Yeah, you’ve got a script in the bottom drawer somewhere. Come on, you’re just not telling me what you want to do with the guy.”

Read more on New York Times

The heart-stories behind the mailboxes are discreetly pasted, painted, hammered and welded into their forms like love letters secreted into the false bottom drawer of a writing desk.

Read more on Seattle Times