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low-water mark

noun
  1. the lowest point reached by a low tide.
  2. something indicating the bottom of a decline.
  3. the lowest or least admirable level: the low-water mark of political chicanery.
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Origin of low-water mark

First recorded in 1520–30
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for low-water mark

Historical Examples

  • When did he ever go down to low-water-mark, to make an ousting of tide-waiters?

    The Works of Daniel Webster, Volume 1

    Daniel Webster

  • I'm at low-water-mark myself—only one bob and a magpie; but, as far as it goes, I'll fork out and stump.

British Dictionary definitions for low-water mark

low-water mark

noun
  1. the level reached by seawater at low tide or by other stretches of water at their lowest level
  2. the lowest point or level; nadir
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012