scum of the earth

English

Noun

scum of the earth (uncountable)

  1. (informal, derogatory) An undesirable individual; the worst type of person or people.
    Antonym: salt of the earth
    People who flog or molest children are the scum of the earth.
    • 2018 August 20, “Q&A: John Marsden says he would not have written the Tomorrow series today”, in ABC News (Australia)‎[1]:
      When I see people who arrive here legitimately seeking refuge and shelter, and they are treated as the scum of the Earth and they are sentenced to awful detention and sometimes death by both major political parties […]

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