bottom drawer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Informal, dated, chiefly British
Quick answer
What does “bottom drawer” mean?
The literal, lowest drawer in a chest or bureau.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The literal, lowest drawer in a chest or bureau.
A collection of household items, traditionally linens or clothing, kept by a young woman in preparation for her future marriage and home. By extension, the state of being engaged to be married ('to be in the bottom drawer').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrase is almost exclusively British/Irish. The concept and phrase are largely unknown in American English. The American equivalent for the practice is 'hope chest'.
Connotations
In British usage, it evokes a bygone era. It can carry slightly quaint or ironic connotations today.
Frequency
Low frequency in modern British English, mostly found in historical contexts or older literature. Extremely rare to non-existent in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “bottom drawer” in a Sentence
[possessive pronoun] + bottom drawerthe + bottom drawer + of + [piece of furniture]to be + in + the + bottom drawerVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare, only in historical, cultural, or gender studies contexts.
Everyday
Very rare, mostly used by older generations or with nostalgic/ironic intent.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bottom drawer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bottom drawer”
- Using it in an American context where 'hope chest' is appropriate.
- Using it to mean 'the least important thing' (e.g., 'That idea is in the bottom drawer').
- Confusing it with 'bottom of the drawer' meaning leftover or forgotten items.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a dated phrase. It is mostly encountered in historical fiction, period dramas, or conversations about the past.
Yes, literally it can, but without a specific cultural or possessive context (e.g., 'her bottom drawer'), it usually just means the lowest drawer in a piece of furniture.
A 'bottom drawer' is the container (literal drawer) where items are stored. A 'trousseau' is the specific collection of clothing, lingerie, and linens assembled by a bride for her marriage. The items in a bottom drawer could form part of a trousseau.
Historically and idiomatically, no. The phrase is strongly gendered, tied to the traditional female role of preparing for marriage and homemaking. A man's equivalent preparations were not lexicalised in the same way.
The literal, lowest drawer in a chest or bureau.
Bottom drawer is usually informal, dated, chiefly british in register.
Bottom drawer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɒt.əm ˈdrɔː(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɑː.t̬əm ˈdrɔːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be in the bottom drawer (to be engaged)”
- “bottom drawer goods (items saved for marriage)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a young woman in the 1950s carefully placing embroidered tablecloths in the BOTTOM DRAWER of her dresser, at the BOTTOM of her single life, dreaming of her future TOP (wedding) day.
Conceptual Metaphor
FUTURE IS A CONTAINER STORED BELOW (The anticipated married life is conceptualised as items stored out of everyday sight, in a low drawer).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is the American equivalent of the British 'bottom drawer'?