bottom of the poll

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bottom of the poll" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the lowest position in a ranking or survey, often in the context of voting or popularity. Example: "After the latest survey results were released, the candidate found themselves at the bottom of the poll, prompting a reevaluation of their campaign strategy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It would be a surprise if he comes bottom of the poll.

The Guardian - Opinion

Byrne had to work hard to retain his shadow cabinet post last year, coming near the bottom of the poll among those who won a seat.

The Guardian

If no candidate gets a majority, the person at the bottom of the poll is dropped and the second and third choices of his supporters are added to the tallies of the remaining candidates.

The New York Times

Speaking at the Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham, where prospective parliamentary candidates from Respect, Labour, Conservatives, Ukip, the Lib Dems and the Greens took to the podium to make their case to potential voters, Galloway said to Shah: "The 27 of February was the day you came bottom of the poll with just 13 votes out of almost 220 in the Bradford West Labour Party selection.

Independent

They came bottom of the poll five years ago.

BBC

Gascoyne had stood for Parliament during Canning's trial, but came bottom of the poll.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

It's pretty unusual to give heavy coverage to someone at the bottom of the polls.

Harvard University

In New Hampshire, Gingrich seemed surprisingly confident for a man at the bottom of the polls.

The New Yorker

Sure, Mr. Legakis said, Mr. Keyes is at the bottom of the polls, but New York will be different.

The New York Times

If you've got a touch of scandal around you and you're way at the bottom of the polls, they don't much care about that.

Harvard University

For a long time he was mired at the bottom of the polls in the Republican primary, but his hard work paid off.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing election results or survey outcomes, "bottom of the poll" is a straightforward way to indicate the candidate or option with the least support. Use it when you want to clearly convey the idea of being last or having the fewest votes.

Common error

Avoid implying that being at the "bottom of the poll" is solely due to a lack of effort. While effort is important, other factors such as changing public opinion or external events can also significantly influence poll results.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bottom of the poll" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject complement or an adverbial modifier specifying the lowest position in a ranking or survey. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is commonly used to indicate the least favorable position in a competitive assessment.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bottom of the poll" accurately and commonly describes the lowest position in a ranking or survey, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While the phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, it's understood across various registers. It is essential to remember that other factors, in addition to effort, might influence one's position at the "bottom of the poll". Alternatives such as "last place in the survey" or "trailing in the opinion polls" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

last place in the survey

Replaces "bottom" with "last place" and specifies the context as a survey.

lowest ranking in the survey

Focuses on the ranking aspect, using "lowest ranking" instead of "bottom".

trailing in the opinion polls

Emphasizes the action of trailing behind, specifically in opinion polls.

lagging at the foot of the poll

Uses "lagging" to denote being behind and replaces "bottom" with "foot".

at the tail end of the poll

Uses a more descriptive phrase "tail end" to indicate the bottom position.

finishing last in the voting

Highlights the act of finishing last specifically in a voting context.

at the very bottom of the ranking

Adds emphasis with "very" and uses "ranking" as a broader term.

occupying the lowest position in the survey

A more formal way of expressing the same idea, using "occupying" and "position".

near the end of the voting results

Describes the position relative to the voting results rather than the poll itself.

the least popular in the survey

Shifts the focus to popularity as the reason for being at the bottom.

FAQs

How can I use "bottom of the poll" in a sentence?

You can use "bottom of the poll" to describe someone or something that ranks lowest in a survey or election. For example: "The candidate found themselves at the "bottom of the poll" after the recent scandal."

What are some alternatives to saying "bottom of the poll"?

You can use alternatives like "last place in the survey", "lowest ranking in the survey", or "trailing in the opinion polls" depending on the context.

Is it always negative to be at the "bottom of the poll"?

While generally unfavorable, being at the "bottom of the poll" can sometimes serve as a catalyst for change. It can motivate a candidate or organization to re-evaluate their strategies and improve their performance.

What factors might influence someone's position at the "bottom of the poll"?

Factors that could contribute to being at the "bottom of the poll" include negative press coverage, lack of funding, weak campaign strategies, or simply a lack of public awareness.