slim pickings

1. A small amount left after others have taken a share. For example, After each of the children took what they wanted of Mother's things, it was slim pickings for the rest of the family. This expression alludes to animals devouring a carcass. [Early 1600s]

Example Sentences

They found slim pickings for years until a perfect match appeared in AI, which has provided a bigger target than anything in history due to the vast sums tech companies need to ramp up computing power.

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This year, low rainfall led to slim pickings in the West Bank, including for the tree whose many nicknames include the Elder, the Bedouin Tree and Mother of Olives.

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“While it’s slim pickings for labor market data right now, Wednesday’s ADP update at least gave investors some reassurance that the jobs market isn’t falling apart,” writes Bret Kenwell, eToro U.S. investment analyst.

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Online, Binning found slim pickings.

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Before that though, there's been slim pickings for mainstream pop songs that celebrate authentic lesbian relationships.

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Related Words

• absence 
• deficiency 
• inadequacy 
• lack 
• paucity 
• shortage