bottom of the barrelthe worst or least able members of a particular group.
He described them as the bottom of the barrel of American society. There were only 40 students in the new class, and I think the admissions office was getting to the bottom of the barrel.Usage notes: sometimes also in the form scrape the bottom of the barrel: I think the awards committee is really scraping the bottom of the barrel if they're giving this award to me.Opposite of: the cream of the crop
[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲