slim pickings

slim pickings

A very small or limited amount to choose from, especially after others have taken from what was originally available. By the time I got to the sale, it was pretty slim pickings left on the racks. A: "Is there any food left from the party?" B: "Just some slim pickings."
See also: picking, slim
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

slim pickings

A small amount left after others have taken a share. For example, After each of the children took what they wanted of Mother's things, it was slim pickings for the rest of the family . This expression alludes to animals devouring a carcass. [Early 1600s]
See also: picking, slim
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

slim pickings

Little left to profit from; a small reward, scarcely worth the effort. This term, alluding to animals devouring a carcass of prey or carrion, has been around since at least the seventeenth century, and the idea is much older yet. John Milton used it in Smectymnus (1642): “The Vulturs had then but small pickings.”
See also: picking, slim
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • choose
  • choose from
  • choose from (people or things)
  • decide
  • decide against
  • decide against (someone or something)
  • decided
  • choose between (two people or things)
  • choose between two people or things
  • choose among (people or things)
References in periodicals archive
Otherwise why would there be such slim pickings at voting stations every time we go to the ballot?
Does census really count for anything?
SLIM PICKINGS The box contains just one layer of chocolate biscuits
Cadbury take the biscuit; Families' fury as they find assortment box has just 8 chocolate biccies in it
IT was hardly a case of slim pickings when Peter Andre appeared at a Sliming World gig in Birmingham.
Pete weighs in with huge demands at slimming gig; STAR ASKS FOR WINE, SPIRITS AND 3-COURSE MEAL AT PS30K BOOKING
In the absence of a Brexit deal, I wish our business leaders luck in finding markets to replace that massive figure - for instance, with the USA in full self-protection mode, there'll be slim pickings there.
We're going to miss EU... Letters
It only had a handful of worthy placestwo good restaurants, one decent barbut those were so sublime that you couldn't be bothered by the slim pickings. And towering over this city busy being born, a light unto the young and the restless, was Kolnoa Allenby.
Farewell to Kolnoa Allenby, Tel Aviv's Temple of Nightlife
But there were slim pickings for the rest, and Greenwood lost his unbeaten record from races completed in Heat 13 when he tried to pass Luke Bowen on the last bend and ended up losing second place to Shanes.
Defiant Dan can't save Storm blushes; SPEEDWAY Kent Kings ????????????????????????????????? 66 Coventry Storm ????????????????????????? 24
International breaks can often mean slim pickings for columnists but Howard always had things he wanted to say.
SHARP, HONEST AND FUNNY TO THE VERY LAST
Damian says: "I'm finding form which is a shame as it is pretty slim pickings for us this weekend.
SPFL FIRST SCORER TIPS & CONTEST
Slim pickings, considering the gruelling run of matches to come.
Newcastle must keep Adam Armstrong at Coventry - even if he could answer goalscoring SOS; Adam Armstrong is probably better than some of Newcastle United's goalscoring options, but Newcastle shouldn't bring him back
STRIP out Meryl Streep's charisma and we're left with slim pickings in this redemptive rock 'n' roll drama.
Where Streep has no shame; NOW SHOWING
Do you need any further evidence of the slim pickings of BBC Wales TV programmes every week when all they can advertise is that one programme?
YOU SAY
WORKERS face a year of "slim pickings" in 2014 despite an increase in jobs and a rise in average earnings, a report has predicted.
Jobs to rise but slim pickings for staff
Gillespie also commended the selection of Chris Rogers in the Australian Ashes squad, saying that the veteran has performed consistently over a long period of time for which he has got his reward, adding that Australian batting has had slim pickings over the last few years.
Gillespie says English bowling attack to fare better than Oz in Ashes
Some want to know what the 'problem' is while others remind me that the clock is ticking and I'd better grab the chance while I can as it's slim pickings the older you get and time's running out.
'No I'm not married - why does it matter?'
There look to be slim pickings north of the border this week with the SPL enjoying a week off, but expect goals in the Division Three clash between Annan and Montrose.
Spiders look to have the edge; SCOTLAND