Learning from the bottom up

'As an actor, I go where the good writing is. That's the bottom line.' Glenn Close - American screen and stage actress

At rock bottom

1 What is 'the bottom line'?

a the end of a road

b the most important fact in a situation

2 How do you feel if you are 'at rock bottom'?

a very happy

b as if everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong

3 When might you say 'bottoms up!'? a when you're about to dive into a swimming pool b when celebrating with friends before drinking

4 If you search your flat 'from top to bottom', where do you look?

a everywhere possible

b just in certain rooms

5 What are you if you are 'at the bottom of the heap'?

a at the lowest level in a particular group

b tired and ready to go to bed

The bottom of my heart

Match these phrases to the correct definition. There are more definitions than you need.

1 to bottom out

2 to scrape the bottom of the barrel

3 to get to the bottom of something

4 to be on the bottom rung of the ladder

5 to mean something from the bottom of your heart

a to be sincere in what you say

b to reach the lowest possible level and then to start to improve

c to hurt someone's feelings

d to be at the lowest level in a company or organisation

e to use poor quality people or things because that is all that is available

f to discover the truth about a situation

Please complete

Fill in the gaps in these sentences with the correct phrase.

1 The ____________ is that we simply don't have any money left in the bank.

a bottom line

b bottoms up

2 I've been ill. My boyfriend has dumped me. I've lost my job. I'm really ____________ .

a at the bottom of the heap.

b at rock bottom.

3 I've lost my keys. I've searched the office ____________, but I haven't got a clue where they are!

a at the bottom of the heap

b from top to bottom

4 I'm the worst paid person in the office. I have to do all the rotten jobs. I know that I am at ____________.

a the bottom line.

b the bottom of the heap.

Finish off!

Finish off these bits of dialogue with the correct second half.

1 When I told you I loved you, I meant it ____________ .

2 After I lost my job, I was ____________.

3 I can't find my passport anywhere. I've searched the flat ____________ .

4 I had to ask Jacob to join the team - I know I'm ____________, but he's the only person who was free.

5 If you want a promotion, you'll just have to work longer hours. That's ____________ .

6 The economy will be better at the end of the year. Things will ____________ .

a at rock bottom for about a year.

b from top to bottom.

c the bottom line.

d from the bottom of my heart.

e bottom out soon.

f scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Answers:

At rock bottom: 1 b. 2 b. 3 b. 4 a. 5 a.

The bottom of my heart: 1 b. 2 b. 3 b. 4 b. 5a.

Please complete: 1 a. 2 b. 3 b. 4 b.

Finish off: 1 d. 2 a. 3 b. 4 f. 5 c. 6 e.