bottomBrE /ˈbɒtəm/ NAmE /ˈbɑːtəm/► SEE ALLat bottomat the bottom/top of the pile/heapbe/lie at the bottom of sththe bottom drops/falls out of the marketthe bottom drops/falls out of sb’s worldthe bottom linethe bottom of the hourfrom the bottom of your heartget to the bottom of sth(you can) bet your bottom dollar/your life (on sth/that…)a/the race to the bottomhit/reach rock bottombe at rock bottom(as) smooth as silkfrom top to bottomtouch bottom ●at ˈbottombasically; in reality归根结底；本质上◆She seems rather unfriendly, but at bottom I think she’s quite kind. 她看起来不太友好，可是我觉得她其实很友善。●at the bottom/top of the ˈpile/ˈheap (informal) in a low/high position in society处于社会的底层／高层◆You’ve no idea what life at the bottom of the pile is like, have you? When do you ever talk to ordinary people? 你不知道社会底层的人是怎样生活的，是不是？你什么时候和普通百姓说过话？●be/lie at the ˈbottom of sthbe the basic cause of sth是某事的根本原因◆Racist feelings almost certainly lie at the bottom of these recent attacks. 几乎可以肯定，种族主义情绪是最近这几起攻击事件的根源所在。●the ˌbottom drops/falls out of the ˈmarketpeople no longer want to buy a particular product and so it has to be sold very cheaply（某产品）滞销，价格暴跌◆She invested in coffee, but then the bottom dropped out of the market, and she lost a lot of money. 她投资咖啡，可是随后咖啡价格暴跌，她赔了好多钱。●the ˌbottom drops/falls out of sb’s ˈworlda person suddenly loses all their happiness, self-confidence, etc.某人的世界崩溃；生活失去了意义◆When his wife left him, the bottom dropped out of his world. 妻子离他而去，对他来说就像天塌了似的。●the ˌbottom ˈline (informal) the important conclusion, judgement, or result重要的结论；根本的判定标准；最终结果◆We’ve had some success this year, but the bottom line is that the business is still losing money. 今年我们取得了一些成绩，不过实际情况是公司还是在赔钱。●the bottom of the ˈhour (especially NAmE) (on a TV/radio programme, etc.) 30 minutes past the hour on a clock（在电视或电台节目等中）半点◆The radio station provides hourly newscasts at both the top and bottom of the hour. 电台在整点和半点播报每小时更新的新闻。OPPthe top of the hour●from the ˌbottom of your ˈheartwith deep feeling; very sincerely衷心地；由衷地；诚恳地◆I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help. 我从心底里感谢你们的帮助。●get to the ˈbottom of sthfind the true cause of sth or the solution to sth弄清事物的真相；找到根源；找到解决办法◆We’re determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. 我们决心彻底解开这个谜团。OPPscratch the surface (of sth)●(you can) bet your bottom ˈdollar/your ˈlife (on sth/that…) (informal) (you can) be certain of sth（可以）肯定，打包票；毫无疑问◆You can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll forget our anniversary.可以打包票，他会把我们的纪念日忘掉。●a/the ˌrace to the ˈbottom (business商业) the idea that economic competition will lead to lower standards, worse conditions for workers, and workers in some countries losing their jobs to lower-paid workers in other countries竞次；逐底竞争（指能导致用工标准降低、工作条件恶化、就业机会向工资水平更低的国家转移的经济竞争）◆They fear that globalization only creates a race to the bottom.他们担心全球化只会造成逐底竞争。●hit/reach ˌrock ˈbottom●be at ˌrock ˈbottomreach or be at the lowest point or level that is possible跌至谷底；跌至最低水平◆Demand for new cars is at rock bottom. This month’s sales figures are the lowest in ten years.对新车的需求已降至最低，本月的销售额是 10 年来最低的。◆I really hit rock bottom after my marriage broke up.婚姻破裂后我的生活陷入低谷。▸ˌrock-ˈbottom
adjective
◆For rock-bottom prices, come to McArthur’s Furniture Store.要找最低价，请到麦克阿瑟家具店来。●(as) smooth as ˈsilk ( (as) smooth as a baby’s ˈbottomhumorous) very smooth如丝般光滑；光滑得像小孩子的屁股◆He had just shaved and his face was as smooth as a baby’s bottom.他刚刚刮过脸，脸上光溜溜的。●from ˌtop to ˈbottomcompletely and thoroughly完完全全；彻底地◆We searched the house from top to bottom.我们把房子边边角角都搜了一遍。●touch ˈbottom1.reach the ground at the bottom of an area of water触及水底2. (BrE) reach the worst possible state or condition到最糟糕的地步；到最低点◆Her career really touched bottom with that movie.那部电影真的使她的事业跌至谷底。