COMMON

1. If something hits rock bottom or reaches rock bottom, it reaches an extremely low level where it cannot go any lower. The UK motor industry had one of its worst days yesterday as new car sales hit rock bottom. This is a good time to buy a house. Prices have reached rock-bottom in most areas. Note: You can also say that something is at rock bottom. Morale within the company was at rock bottom. Note: People often talk about rock-bottom prices, meaning extremely low prices. He has been buying property at rock-bottom prices.

2. If someone hits rock bottom or reaches rock bottom, they reach the point where they are so unhappy and without hope that they could not feel worse. When my girlfriend left me, I hit rock bottom. Sometimes you have to reach rock bottom before you can start to recover. Note: You can also say that someone is at rock bottom. She was at rock bottom. Her marriage was breaking up and so was she. Note: This expression comes from mining, and refers to the layer of rock that is reached once the supply of minerals being taken from the mine has been used up.