Word: Bottom Out
Definition: The phrase "bottom out" means to reach the lowest point of something, especially in a situation where things have been decreasing or getting worse. After hitting this low point, things may start to improve or rise again.
Usage Instructions:
"Bottom out" is often used in contexts like economics, prices, or even personal situations (like feelings or performance) where there is a noticeable decline followed by recovery.
It is a phrasal verb, so it should be used with a subject and an object, if applicable.
Examples:
Physical Context: "The car bottomed out where the driveway meets the road." (This means the car hit the ground because the driveway is too steep.)
Economic Context: "After several months of falling prices, the market finally bottomed out and started to rise again." (This means prices reached their lowest point and began to increase after that.)
Advanced Usage:
In finance, you might hear, "Investors are hoping the stock prices will bottom out soon so they can buy at a low price." This implies that prices are currently low, and people believe they will increase after hitting that low point.
Word Variants:
Bottoming Out (noun): Refers to the process of reaching the lowest point. For example, "The bottoming out of the economy led to new policies."
Bottomed (adjective): Used to describe something that has reached its lowest point. For example, "The bottomed market is expected to recover soon."
Different Meanings:
In a literal sense, it refers to objects hitting the ground or a surface (like a car).
In a figurative sense, it can describe situations like economies, feelings, or trends reaching their lowest point before improvement.
Synonyms:
Idioms and Related Phrasal Verbs:
Summary:
"Bottom out" is a versatile phrase used in both literal and figurative contexts to describe reaching the lowest point before recovery. It is commonly used in discussions about economics, vehicles, and personal situations.