draw straws en · VERB
Meanings
-
To decide at random by drawing (selecting randomly between) straws, sticks, etc., one of which differs from the others (typically by being shorter), held in a person's hand so as to conceal which is the different one. Typically, whoever draws the short straw must complete some undesirable task. Alternatively, whoever draws the longest straw gets a desired position.
We drew straws, and today's my day to go to school. We're all taking turns so we each only go once a week.
1990 January 23, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic):They drew straws to see who had to wash the dishes.
- (broadly) To decide by any means of chance.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| drawing straws | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| draws straws | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| drawn straws | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| drew straws | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Relateds
draw the short straw · cast lots · draw lots
Translations (11)
pl ciągnąć losy (decide at random) · fi vetää pitkää tikkua (decide at random) · de Stöckchen ziehen (decide at random) · br tennañ plouz berr (decide at random) · cmn 抽籤 /抽签 (decide at random) · gl botar á palla perra (decide at random) · de Streichhölzer ziehen (decide at random) · fr tirer à la courte paille (decide at random) · hu sorsot húz (decide at random) · cmn 抓鬮 /抓阄 (decide at random) · gl botar sortes (decide at random)