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1 clutch at straws
(to hope that something may help one in a hopeless situation.) se raccrocher à n'importe quoi -
2 clutch
clutch [klʌt∫]1. nounc. [of eggs] couvée fa. ( = cling) to clutch at se cramponner à* * *[klʌtʃ] 1.1) Automobile embrayage m2.clutches plural noun3.to fall into the clutches of — tomber sous les griffes or la patte (colloq) de
transitive verb tenir fermement [object, child]to clutch somebody/something to — serrer quelqu'un/quelque chose contre [chest]
Phrasal Verbs: -
3 clutch
1. verb1) ((with at) to try to take hold of: I clutched at a floating piece of wood to save myself from drowning.) se raccrocher (à)2) (to hold tightly (in the hands): She was clutching a 50-cent piece.) tenir bien serré2. noun1) (control or power: He fell into the clutches of the enemy.) (sous les) griffes2) ((the pedal operating) a device by means of which two moving parts of an engine may be connected or disconnected: He released the clutch and the car started to move.) (pédale d')embrayage• -
4 straw
straw [strɔ:]1. nounpaille f• when he refused, it was the last straw quand il a refusé, ça a été la goutte d'eau qui a fait déborder le vase• that's the last straw! ça c'est le comble !2. compounds( = made of straw) en paille* * *[strɔː] 1. 2.••to grasp ou clutch at straws — se raccrocher à une chimère
the last ou final straw — la goutte qui fait déborder le vase
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5 straw
A n1 gen ( substance) paille f ; ( single stem) fétu m or brin m de paille ; bedding straw paille f à litière ;2 ( for thatching) chaume m ;to draw straws tirer à la courte paille ; to draw the short straw tirer le mauvais numéro ; to grasp ou clutch at straws se raccrocher à une chimère ; it's not worth a straw cela ne vaut pas un clou ○ ; I don't care a straw ○ je m'en moque éperdument ; the last ou final straw la goutte qui fait déborder le vase ; a man of straw un homme de paille ; a straw in the wind un indice ; to make bricks without straw faire avec ce que l'on a. -
6 straw
straw [strɔ:]1 noun(a) Agriculture paille f;∎ British figurative man of straw homme m de paille(b) (for drinking) paille f;∎ to drink sth through a straw boire qch avec une paille∎ to catch or to clutch at a straw or at straws se raccrocher désespérément à la moindre lueur d'espoir;∎ you're just grasping at straws vous vous raccrochez à de faux espoirs;∎ to draw or to get the short straw être tiré au sort, être de corvée;∎ a straw in the wind un aperçu (de ce que l'avenir nous réserve);∎ that's the last straw or the straw that breaks the camel's back c'est la goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase;∎ it's the last straw! ça c'est le comble ou le bouquet!;∎ familiar it's not worth a straw ça ne vaut pas un clou►► American straw boss homme m de terrain;straw hat chapeau m de paille;American figurative straw man homme m de paille;straw mat paillasson m;straw mattress paillasse f;
См. также в других словарях:
clutch at straws — clutch/grasp/at straws phrase to try to find anything at all that will help you or give you hope in a difficult situation, when it is likely that you will find nothing She knew she was clutching at straws, thinking he might help her. Thesaurus:… … Useful english dictionary
clutch at straws — If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws … The small dictionary of idiomes
clutch at straws — ► clutch at straws resort in desperation to unlikely or inadequate means of salvation. [ORIGIN: from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw.] Main Entry: ↑straw … English terms dictionary
clutch\ at\ straws — • grasp at straws • clutch at straws v. phr. To depend on something that is useless or unable to help in a time of trouble or danger; try something with little hope of succeeding. To depend on your memory without studying for a test is to grasp… … Словарь американских идиом
clutch at straws — 1. to try any method, even those that are not likely to succeed, because you are in such a bad situation. He s hoping that this new treatment will help him but I think he s clutching at straws. (usually in continuous tenses) 2. to try to find… … New idioms dictionary
clutch at straws — If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
Clutch at straws — If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws … Dictionary of English idioms
clutch — 1 verb (I) to hold something or someone tightly, especially because you are frightened, in pain, or do not want to lose something: Tom fell to the ground clutching his stomach. | A woman clutching a baby stole an elderly woman s purse. clutch at… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
clutch — [[t]klʌ̱tʃ[/t]] clutches, clutching, clutched 1) VERB If you clutch at something or clutch something, you hold it tightly, usually because you are afraid or anxious. [V at n] I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support... [V n] She was… … English dictionary
clutch/grasp at straws — to try to solve a problem by doing things that probably will not help I asked her for a loan. I didn t think she d agree, but at that point I was grasping at straws. • • • Main Entry: ↑straw … Useful english dictionary
clutch (or grasp or catch) at straws — resort in desperation to unlikely or inadequate means of salvation. [from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw.] → straw … English new terms dictionary