Example
“I drew the short straw and had to present our findings at seven in the morning.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
draw a blank
Neutral · CEFR B2
to be unable to recall or produce the needed answer or information
grasp at straws
Neutral · CEFR B2
to try desperate, unlikely measures when things are going badly
make short work of
Neutral · CEFR B2
to finish a task or overcome an opponent with surprising speed and ease
the straw that broke the camel's back
Neutral · CEFR B2
the final small addition that makes a situation unbearable
short shrift
Formal · CEFR C1
very little attention or consideration, usually given dismissively
par for the course
Neutral · CEFR B2
Normal and unsurprising for a particular situation, even if it is inconvenient or disappointing.
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.