Dictionary

grasp at straws en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

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).

Meanings

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 obtain any form of help, even if it is insignificant.

Forms

Deriveds

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

Synonyms

clutch at straws · clutch at a straw

Translations (10)

fi tarttua oljenkorsiin (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information) · es agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information) · de nach jedem Strohhalm greifen (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information) · pl chwytać się brzytwy (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information) · it arrampicarsi sugli specchi (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information) · cs chytat se jako tonoucí stébla (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information) · cmn 捕風捉影 /捕风捉影 (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information) · cs chytat se stébla (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information) · sv gripa efter halmstrån (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information) · ru хвата́ться за соло́минку (guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information)

wikipedia: Thomas More · wikipedia: A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation