touch bottom

Idioms and Phrases

Reach the lowest point, as in During the recession the economists kept saying that we hadn't touched bottom yet . This metaphor for reaching the ground under a body of water has been used since the mid-1800s.

Example Sentences

But the poles were too short now to touch bottom, and there were no ice cakes about to offer the necessary resistance.

From Project Gutenberg

Miss Athene's leavin' home has made it pretty steep, but this'll touch bottom—this will.

From Project Gutenberg

The boat went down into such deep water that the setting poles did not touch bottom.

From Project Gutenberg

"But I'm just going to touch bottom," the tall digger expostulated.

From Project Gutenberg

He could not touch bottom there, or even at the base of the Causeway.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• capsize
• decline
• descend
• dig
• dip
• disappear
• drill
• drive
• drop
• drown
• fall
• go down
• lower
• overturn
• plummet
• plunge
• ram
• sag
• settle
• slump