bottom out
The phrase "bottom out" is often used to describe situations where something reaches its lowest point before stabilizing or improving, with applications in economics, mechanics, and everyday language.
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Definition
B2General
(idiomatic)To reach the lowest or worst point in a situation before starting to improve.
Example
- The stock market finally bottomed out after months of decline.
C1Economics
(technical)To stabilize at a low level after a period of decline.
Example
- The housing market seems to have bottomed out and is now showing signs of recovery.
B2Mechanics
(technical)For a vehicle or object to touch the ground or another surface, often causing damage or loss of function.
Example
- The car bottomed out on the rough terrain, damaging its undercarriage.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "bottom out":
rock bottomtop outbottom fishinglevel outlevel offlower boundarytopping outbottom dead centerfalse bottomflatten outbottom edgemax outfall throughbottom linebottom feedingrace to the bottomground out