ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bottom of the ninth

idiom
Meaning

By extension, any last chance or final opportunity.


Origin

disputed origin

Bottom, from the home team's location below visitors on the scoreboard; ninth from the number of innings in a baseball game.

Examples
SIMPLE

This is the bottom of the ninth for our team.

CONTEXTUAL

With only one day left to submit the proposal, we knew we were at the bottom of the ninth.

COMPLEX

As the negotiations dragged past midnight, the exhausted diplomats realized they had reached the bottom of the ninth, with mere hours to prevent the treaty from collapsing entirely.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bet one's bottom dollar

    To be absolutely sure of something; to be certain enough of something to wager everything.

  2. 02

    bottom dollar

    The last of one's money; all of one's money.

  3. 03

    bottom fishing

    Buying, or seeking opportunities to buy, investment securities or other valuable properties at a time when markets are depressed and prices are low.

  4. 04

    bottom line

    The summary or result; the most important information.

  5. 05

    bottom of the line

    The worst or lowest quality on the market, especially among a range of products.

  6. 06

    bottom out

    Of a vehicle, to touch or drag along the ground or other surface.

  7. 07

    bottom the house

    To clean a house from top to bottom; to clean a house extremely thoroughly.

  8. 08

    get to the bottom of

    To come to understand, discover the truth about, or solve.

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