PhrasesHub

Scrape the barrel

    Definitions

      • reach the bottom, use the last available resource
        To use or take the last of something, especially when it is of low quality or value

      • find something negative
        To search for something at the bottom of a list or group, often for something negative or undesirable

    Examples of Scrape the barrel

    • She had to scrape the barrel to find a date for the wedding.

      This idiom is used metaphorically to describe a situation where someone has to settle for the very least or lowest possible option because there are no better alternatives available. In this example, the person is having a hard time finding a suitable date for the wedding, and as a result, she is forced to choose someone who is not her first choice.

    • The sales last week was a scrape the barrel event.

      This idiom is used metaphorically to describe a situation where there was no demand for the products, and the store had to significantly reduce prices in order to make any sales. In this example, the sales event was so unsuccessful that the store had to resort to selling items at a lower price than their actual value in order to attract customers.

    • After a string of failed auditions, the aspiring actress felt like she was scraping the barrel.

      This idiom is used metaphorically to describe a situation where a person has exhausted all of their options and is running out of opportunities. In this example, the aspiring actress has been unsuccessful in her auditions and is beginning to feel that her chances of success are dwindling.

    • His speech was so dull that it felt like he was scraping the barrel for ideas.

      This idiom is used metaphorically to describe a situation where a person is running out of ideas or inspiration. In this example, the person delivering the speech is struggling to think of anything interesting or engaging to say, and the audience is becoming increasingly bored.

    • When the company held their annual talent competition, they were really scraping the barrel when they had the IT guy playing the recorder.

      This idiom means to choose the very worst or least talented people possible. In this example, the company's talent competition had reached a very low point when they had to settle for the IT guy playing a child's instrument like the recorder. This shows that they had already chosen the worst performers and were now reaching deeply into the bottom of the barrel to find even worse talent.

    • I've watched every episode of that show at least three times, it feels like I'm scraping the barrel for entertainment now.

      This example uses the idiom in a different context. It implies that the person watching the same show repeatedly has already consumed all of the best content and is now left with little else to watch, as if they're scraping the bottom of the barrel for something to enjoy.

    • The sports team's losing streak has reached an all-time low, they're really scraping the barrel now.

      This instance of the idiom is used to describe a situation where a team has lost so many games that they're now resorting to their absolute weakest players and strategies in order to have any chance of winning, scraping the bottom of the barrel for a victorious solution.

    • After a long night of partying, I feel like I've scraped the barrel of my energy and I can barely keep my eyes open.

      In this case, scraping the barrel relates to running out of strength or resources. When someone has been awake all night and is extremely exhausted, they've used up all of their energy and are running on fumes, much like scraping the bottom of a barrel for its remaining contents.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "scrape the barrel" is often used to describe using the last available resource, especially when it is of low quality or value. It can also refer to searching for something at the bottom of a list or group, often for something negative or undesirable.

    Origin of "Scrape the barrel"

    The origin of the idiom "scrape the barrel" can be traced back to the practice of scraping the bottom of a barrel to find the last remaining contents. Barrels were commonly used for storing items such as food or drink, and when these items ran out, people would have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to get the last bits. This action came to symbolize using the last available resource, especially when it was of low quality or value.

    Over time, the idiom "scrape the barrel" has evolved to also refer to searching for something at the bottom of a list or group, often for something negative or undesirable. The idiom is now commonly used in everyday language to convey the idea of using the last of something or searching for something undesirable.