scrape the bottom of the barrel

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scrape the bottom of the barrel" is correct and can be used in written English.
It literally means to use something of a very low quality, or to use all the remaining resources that are left. You can use it in any context that involves: using something of low quality, using all the remaining resources, or being desperate for something. Example sentence: "With all the best talent already taken, we had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find workers for the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Wasn't Germany, like every other country, searching around to scrape the bottom of the barrel for labor for all its requirements?

Yale University

Bob Herbert points out that because of the unpopularity of the war in Iraq, military recruiters are compelled to scrape the bottom of the barrel and accept recruits, such as skinheads and criminals, who would normally be viewed as unfit.

The New York Times

I thought it was honest and very well produced, and, while it may not have been a documentary on Iraq, I do think there is room for all kinds of news, as long as you don't scrape the bottom of the barrel.

The New Yorker

It has been saying that the national game has rarely been required to so desperately scrape the bottom of the barrel and if the Aussies plainly had an edge of advantage going into this morning's action they still had large amounts of difficult terrain to cover.

Independent

However, the search for an iPod head had been going on for so long that they were starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel — or maybe it's more charitable to say they were reaching the bottom of the cream and getting to the rest of the crop.

TechCrunch

Freddy Got Fingered, 2001 "This movie doesn't scrape the bottom of the barrel.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They are guilty of last-minute scraping-the-bottom-of-the-barrel tokenism.

The Economist

They really are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Independent

It's scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Independent

That was really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

The New York Times

He added, "We're just scraping the bottom of the barrel, just trying to keep up".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scrape the bottom of the barrel" to vividly describe situations where resources are scarce and of poor quality. It adds a strong negative connotation to the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "scrape the bottom of the barrel" when simply describing resource use without the implication of desperation or low quality. The idiom is not merely about using resources, but about the poor quality and scarcity thereof.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scrape the bottom of the barrel" functions as an idiomatic expression, typically serving as a verb phrase within a sentence. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use to describe situations where resources or options are severely limited and of poor quality, indicating a sense of desperation or resignation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scrape the bottom of the barrel" is a grammatically sound and understandable idiom that is used to describe situations of dire scarcity and the use of inferior resources. Ludwig's analysis, supported by a collection of real-world examples from news sources, academic texts, and more, confirms that while its expression may not be prevalent in formal or scientific discourse, but it's still correct. The data indicates it shows it is mostly used on news & media contexts. Understanding how to use this phrase correctly can add vividness to writing, particularly when conveying a sense of desperation or compromise in resource management.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resort to desperate measures

Focuses on the desperation aspect of using limited or poor resources.

use the dregs

Implies using the least valuable or desirable part of something.

rely on inferior options

Highlights the low quality of the resources being used.

exhaust all options

Highlights the completion of using all available resources, not necessarily implying low quality.

tap into marginal resources

Suggests using resources that are barely sufficient or profitable.

accept substandard alternatives

Focuses on settling for options that do not meet the desired standard.

dip into the reserves

Suggests using resources that were saved for a specific purpose or emergency.

employ the least qualified

Specific to human resources, indicating the use of poorly skilled personnel.

make do with leftovers

Emphasizes using what remains after the best parts have been taken.

exploit the last resources

Focuses on the act of using resources to their limit.

FAQs

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

You can use "scrape the bottom of the barrel" to describe a situation where you are forced to use the least desirable or remaining resources because there are no better options available. For example: "After the budget cuts, the department had to "scrape the bottom of the barrel" to find supplies."

What is a less common alternative to "scrape the bottom of the barrel"?

A less common alternative to "scrape the bottom of the barrel" is to "use the dregs". This phrase also implies using the least valuable or desirable part of something.

When is it appropriate to use "scrape the bottom of the barrel"?

It's appropriate to use "scrape the bottom of the barrel" when you want to emphasize that the available resources are of very poor quality or that you are in a desperate situation where you have no choice but to use whatever is left.

Is there a more formal way to say "scrape the bottom of the barrel"?

While "scrape the bottom of the barrel" is quite idiomatic, a more formal alternative could be to "resort to desperate measures", which conveys a similar sense of being forced to use less than ideal options due to a lack of better alternatives.