1. Home
2. Idioms
3. the scum of the earth

the scum of the earth

---

---

the scum of the earth

  (very informal)

if a group of people are the scum of the earth, they are the worst type of people

Usage notes: Scum is a layer of unpleasant or dirty substance that has formed on top of a liquid.

People who abuse children are the scum of the earth.

See also: earth, of, scum