hit rock bottom
Meaning: To reach the lowest possible point.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “He hit rock bottom before asking for help.”
Category: Nature
Origin: Rock bottom is the solid rock under looser ground, the deepest a miner or a well can go. The figurative phrase is American from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Italian: toccare il fondo — literally: to touch the bottom
More idioms — Nature
- lead someone up the garden path — To deceive someone, keeping them hopeful along the way.
- let the grass grow under one's feet — To waste time and miss opportunities.
- go through fire and water — To face any danger or hardship for someone or something.
- the eye of the storm — The center of a crisis; sometimes a brief calm in the middle of it.
- fight fire with fire — To respond to an attack with the same methods.
- in broad daylight — Openly, during the day, when anyone could see.
More English idioms
- work one's fingers to the bone — To work extremely hard.
- watch one's back — To stay alert to hidden threats.
- move with the times — To keep up with change instead of clinging to old ways.
- beat the drum for something — To promote something loudly and publicly.
- set someone's heart racing — To excite or alarm someone.
- forget one's own head — To be extremely forgetful.
From our false friends
- Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.