It picked eight, all with less than $2 billion in sales, from among the weakest performers in its portfolio of 1,500-plus companies.

"Miers had pushed to fire them all," and Administration officials "were determined to dismiss those they considered the weakest performers."

The brokers selected for layoffs will be the weakest performers.

Since 1989 it is actually the weakest performer in growing earnings per share among the big oils.

In the format, after each round, the contestants vote to kick out the member they think is the weakest performer.

Consequently, even the weakest performer is able to give at the very least an adequate performance.

This year, biotechnology stocks have continued to lag behind the market, with the smallest companies generally the weakest performers.

The weakest performer from each preliminary round was sent to the final cook-off.

Telecommunications junk was the weakest performer, as companies borrowed heavily to build new systems.

Based on the stagework, three judges determine the weakest performer, whom they eliminate.