Preposition: of

• humanity: We are plagued with idiots on radio and television who speak English like the dregs of humanity.

• society: People who treat the elderly badly are the dregs of society.

• community: People who burgle off there own, are the dregs of the community.

• work: Fill with about an inch and a half with beer - the dregs of home brew work very well.

• tea: As we slurped the last dregs of tea from now freezing cups, I had a bleep on my left hand rod.

• earth: He did not care, these were the dregs of the earth and he hated being there.

Preposition: from

• bottle: As Harry drains the last dregs from the bottle outside a hospital an ambulance draws in.

Converse of object

• drain: As Harry drains the last dregs from the bottle outside a hospital an ambulance draws in.

• get: The late Lord Longford made the point less tactfully five years ago: " We would get the dregs.

• drink: Or look at yon fallen woman drinking the dregs of her bitter, damning cup!

• leave: Leaving the coffee dregs, I got back onto the bus.

• use: Mr Laver, Oxford use the dregs of the teapot to water house plants as they will benefit from the fermenting tea leaves.

• have: It doesn't help that I still have the dregs of flu inside me, and my leg has been playing up recently.

Adjective modifier

• last: I'm still here, the last dregs of BP haven't gone yet.

• bitter: He will consume the cup to the bitter dregs.