grasp at straws
(Redirected from grasping at straws)
English
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editEtymology
editIn 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
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
editgrasp at straws (third-person singular simple present grasps at straws, present participle grasping at straws, simple past and past participle grasped at straws)
- (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.
- (idiomatic) To get hold of any help, even if it is insignificant.
Derived terms
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References
edit- Titelman, Gregory Y., "The Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" (Random House, New York, 1996).