🐦 Slim Pickings: When the Cupboard’s Almost Bare 🍞
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 used since the seventeenth century, and the idea is much older yet. John Milton employed it in “Smectymnuus” (1642): “The Vulturs had then but small pickings.”
Similarly Hungry Phrases:
- Down to the bone: Thoroughly used up, leaving only the bare essentials.
- Bare bones: Minimal and essential components only.
- Not much to write home about: Nothing particularly impressive or worthwhile.
- The cupboard is bare: Out of resources, especially food.
- Scavenger hunt: Searching for scraps or leftovers, usually in a humorous or desperate situation.
Animalistic Antonyms:
- Feast your eyes: Something pleasing to look at, usually plentiful and appealing.
- Abundance of riches: Having a large amount of valuable and desirable things.
- Cornucopia: A plentiful supply or a wide variety of good things.
- More than you can shake a stick at: An overwhelming profusion, more than one can count.
Witty Quotes for Thin Times:
- “When life gives you slim pickings, sometimes you have to forage your own feast.” — Fictional Wisdom
- “They say beggars can’t be choosers, but even some scraps have standards.” — W. T. Wittywords
Proverbs, Ancient and Wise:
- “Half a loaf is better than none.” — A nod to accepting even meager rewards when options are limited.
- “A penny saved is a penny earned.” — Reminding us that every little bit counts, especially in slim times.
Literature, Songs, and Silver Screens to Savor:
- Literature: “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck — An evocative portrayal of lean times during the Great Depression.
- Song: “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers — Inspirational tune about relying on each other, especially in sparse times.
- Poetry: “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley — Reflections on the fleeting nature of abundance.
- Movie: “The Pursuit of Happyness” — Will Smith’s portrayal of overcoming trials when the pickings are anything but slim.
🎓 Quiz Time! Can You Spot the Real Ones?
### Which of these means a minimal reward or opportunity?
- [x] Slim pickings
- [ ] Fat chickens
- [ ] Chunky chow
- [ ] Round pickings
> **Explanation:** "Slim pickings" refers to minimal rewards or opportunities. The others are culinary chaos concocted by our imagination.
### Identify the expression related to having very little left:
- [ ] Feast from the fullest
- [x] Down to the bone
- [ ] Overflowing bounty
- [ ] Lush leftovers
> **Explanation:** "Down to the bone" speaks to having only the bare essentials left. The others fall closer to fairy tales.
### True or False: 'Bare bones' signifies just the essentials.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True indeed! 'Bare bones' implies stripping down to the absolute essentials.
Remember, friends, in the world of idioms and expressions, even slim pickings can sometimes yield hearty humor and abundant wisdom. Till next time, keep those word engines running!
Inspirational Last Thought:
“When life hands you slim pickings, enrich your own life with laughter and stories, for they never run dry.”
