scrap heap

American  

Or scrapheap

noun

1. a pile of old, discarded material, as metal.

2. a place for dumping old, useless things.

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Etymology

Origin of scrap heap

First recorded in 1830–40; scrap ¹ + heap

Example Sentences

Among the items destined for the scrap heap is the gantry, which once sheltered Soyuz rockets from the tropical weather.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

"It's absolutely infuriating that a treatable condition like this is ignored and that women are put on the scrap heap," said Lipoedema UK's head of research Dr Lesley Steinitz.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2025

If that’s what’s best for her, then he’s OK with being cast on the scrap heap.

From Salon • Aug. 26, 2024

He arrived here on the scrap heap, cut by the New York Mets after the 2013 season, scooped up by shrewd former general manager Ned Colletti, given a million bucks and a minor league contract.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2022

Looked like he’d saved it from a scrap heap.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia