scrape the bottom of the barrel
US /skreɪp ðə ˈbɑtəm əv ðə ˈbærəl/
UK /skreɪp ðə ˈbɑtəm əv ðə ˈbærəl/
1.
to be forced to use the worst or least desirable people or things because there are no others available
:
•
We're really scraping the bottom of the barrel if we have to hire him.
•
The team is so desperate for players that they're scraping the bottom of the barrel.