to clutch at a straw

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• a drowning man will clutch at a straw — One grabs at the slightest chance when all hope is slipping away. Clutch is comparatively recent and is more suggestive of desperation than the earlier catch. To clutch at a straw (or straws) is frequently used as a metaphorical phrase. 1534 MORE …   Proverbs new dictionary

• clutch at a straw — desperately try to achieve something, frantically search for other options …   English contemporary dictionary

• straw — [strô] n. [ME stra < OE streaw, akin to streawian: see STREW] 1. hollow stalks or stems of grain after threshing, collectively: used for fodder, for bedding, for making hats, etc. 2. a single one of such stalks 3. such a stalk or, now esp., a… …   English World 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

• 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 — I n. device for engaging and disengaging a transmission 1) to engage, throw in the clutch ( to release the clutch pedal ) 2) to work the clutch 3) to disengage the clutch ( to depress the clutch pedal ) 4) to ride the clutch ( to keep the clutch… …   Combinatory dictionary

• straw — noun 1》 dried stalks of grain, used as fodder or for thatching, packing, or weaving. 2》 a single dried stalk of grain. 3》 a thin hollow tube of paper or plastic for sucking drink from a glass or bottle. 4》 a pale yellow colour like that of straw …   English new terms dictionary

• straw — /strɔ / (say straw) noun 1. a single stalk or stem, especially of certain species of grain, chiefly wheat, rye, oats, and barley. 2. a mass of such stalks, especially after drying and threshing, used as fodder, as material for hats, etc. 3. a… …  

• straw — see you cannot make bricks without straw a drowning man will clutch at a straw it is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back straws tell which way the wind blows …   Proverbs new dictionary

• clutch — see a drowning man will clutch at a straw …   Proverbs new dictionary

• 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