rock bottom

¹ American  

noun

1. the very lowest level.

   He went bankrupt and touched rock bottom.

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rock-bottom ² American  

[rok-bot-uhm] / ˈrɒkˈbɒt əm /

adjective

1. at the lowest possible limit or level; extremely low.

   rock-bottom prices.

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rock bottom British  

noun

1. 1. the lowest possible level

   2. ( as modifier )

      rock-bottom prices

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rock bottom Idioms  

1. The lowest possible level, absolute bottom, as in Wheat prices have reached rock bottom. This idiom alludes to the presence of bedrock that prevents digging farther down. [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of rock bottom¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Origin of rock-bottom²

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

They remain third and can strengthen their position with victory at rock bottom Wolves on Friday.

From BBC

Trust is at rock bottom, and many seem to be of the opinion that systems need to be shaken up if not torn up entirely.

From BBC

When Amy Laird discovered she was spending seven hours a day on her phone, she said it was her "rock bottom" moment.

From BBC

"The reason Anthropic's satirical ads went viral is precisely because public trust in you and OpenAI has already hit rock bottom over the past few months," reads one prominent comment.

From BBC

Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner says she "leaned into" playing a corporate worker who is at "rock bottom" in new Amazon Prime Video heist drama Steal.

From BBC

Related Words

• nadir