scrape the bottom of the barrel

Etymology
Derived from the historical practice in the early European history of storing food in barrels; when food supplies ran low, only what was on the very bottom of the barrel remained, and had to be removed by scraping.

Oil in a barrel has different fractions with a different weight. The heavier fractions like asphaltum sink to the bottom of the barrel and can be difficult to scrape from the bottom.

Verb

 * 1)  To settle for a poor option due to a lack or unavailability of anything more favorable.

Translations

 * Finnish: kaapia laarin pohjia, tyytyä rippeisiin
 * German: den letzten Rest zusammenkratzen
 * Luxembourgish: alles zesummekrazen
 * Polish:
 * Russian: скрести по сусекам