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barrel

Definition

  • noun: a round usually wooden container with curved sides and flat ends
  • noun: a round bulging vessel of greater length than breadth that is usually made of staves bound with hoops and has flat ends of equal diameter
  • verb: to move very fast and often in an uncontrolled or dangerous way
  • verb: to put or pack in a barrel
  • synonyms: jar

Examples

  • The excessive coverage of the scandal signals that the news media may have finally hit/reached 'the bottom of the barrel'.

  • Salaries in the industry are scraping/hitting 'the bottom of the barrel'. [=salaries in the industry are very low]

  • Several people have lost their jobs recently, so the office isn't exactly a 'barrel of laughs' these days.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) Give me something fresh. He won't even try a bloody bullet catch. A bullet catch is suicide. All it takes is some smartass volunteer to put a button in the barrel. - Use a plant. - You can't for every trick. No seats left for the punters. All right, no bullet catch, whatever, (..)
    2006 The Prestige