grasp at straws

English

Alternative forms

• clutch at straws / clutch at a straw
• grab at straws / grab at a straw
• grasp at a straw

Etymology

In reference to a drowning person grabbing any floating object, even a straw, to save themselves. First used by Thomas More in A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (1534).

Pronunciation

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Verb

grasp at straws (third-person singular simple present grasps at straws, present participle grasping at straws, simple past and past participle grasped at straws)

1. (idiomatic) To guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information.

   I've never met his mother, so I'm grasping at straws for an appropriate gift for her.

2. (idiomatic) To get hold of any help, even if it is insignificant.

Derived terms

• straw-clutchingly
• a drowning man will clutch at a straw

Translations

Translations

• Czech: chytat se stébla, chytat se jako tonoucí stébla
• Italian: arrampicarsi sugli specchi
• Spanish: agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo
• Swedish: gripa efter halmstrån

References

• Titelman, Gregory Y., "The Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" (Random House, New York, 1996).