bottomless pit: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Informal, often figurative, slightly literary
Quick answer
What does “bottomless pit” mean?
A pit or hole that has no discernible bottom.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pit or hole that has no discernible bottom; something that appears to be limitless in depth.
A seemingly endless source of consumption, expenditure, or demand; a situation, entity, or state that absorbs resources, energy, or money without showing any benefit or reaching a limit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or syntactic differences. The phrase is used identically.
Connotations
Equally negative in both variants, implying waste, futility, and endless drain.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British media, but common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “bottomless pit” in a Sentence
[Entity] is a bottomless pit for [resource][Resource] vanished into a bottomless pittreat [Entity] like a bottomless pitVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bottomless pit” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new software project is bottomless-pitting our entire R&D budget.
- (Note: Non-standard verb use, very rare)
American English
- We can't keep bottomless-pitting funds into that failing division.
- (Note: Non-standard verb use, very rare)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable)
American English
- (Not applicable)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; the term is a compound noun. 'Bottomless' is a separate adjective.)
American English
- (Not standard; the term is a compound noun. 'Bottomless' is a separate adjective.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referring to a division or project that consistently consumes capital without return.
Academic
Used in economics or sociology to describe systems of unsustainable consumption.
Everyday
Complaining about a teenager's appetite or a car's repair costs.
Technical
Rare; in geology, could describe a theoretically infinitely deep fissure (highly specialised).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bottomless pit”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bottomless pit”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bottomless pit”
- Using it as a positive (e.g., 'bottomless pit of opportunities' – this is highly atypical). Confusing with 'bottomless' as in 'bottomless drinks' (unlimited supply).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. Its core connotation is negative, describing waste and insatiability. A positive use (e.g., 'bottomless pit of love') is poetic and highly unconventional.
They are very close synonyms in figurative use. 'Black hole' often emphasises complete disappearance and inescapability (from physics), while 'bottomless pit' emphasises endless depth and consumption.
It is a compound noun, typically written as two words: 'bottomless pit'. Hyphenation ('bottomless-pit') is less common but sometimes seen when used attributively (e.g., a bottomless-pit project).
Yes, figuratively. E.g., 'He's a bottomless pit when it comes to gossip' means he has an insatiable appetite for gossip.
A pit or hole that has no discernible bottom.
Bottomless pit is usually informal, often figurative, slightly literary in register.
Bottomless pit: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɒtəmləs ˈpɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɑːtəmləs ˈpɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “throw money into a bottomless pit”
- “a bottomless pit of despair”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pit so deep you throw coins into it but never hear them hit the bottom — your money is gone forever.
Conceptual Metaphor
INSATIABLE HUNGER IS A BOTTOMLESS PIT / WASTED RESOURCES ARE THINGS FALLING INTO A BOTTOMLESS PIT
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bottomless pit' LEAST likely to be used?