Definition
To resort to the least desirable option or use the last of something
Examples
I had to scrape the bottom of the barrel for ideas for my presentation.
We are scraping the bottom of the barrel for new employees.
Origin
Believed to come from the use of a barrel to store goods and materials, with the bottom being the last and least desirable part of the barrel.
FAQs
What does it mean to scrape the bottom of the barrel?
To resort to the least desirable option or use the last of something.
Where does the phrase ‘scrape the bottom of the barrel’ come from?
It is believed to come from the use of a barrel to store goods and materials, with the bottom being the last and least desirable part of the barrel.