Example
“Without evidence, he was grasping at straws to defend the theory.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
draw the short straw
Neutral · CEFR B2
to be selected, often by chance, for an unwanted task or outcome
the straw that broke the camel's back
Neutral · CEFR B2
the final small addition that makes a situation unbearable
go downhill
Neutral · CEFR B1
to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance
miss the boat
Informal · CEFR B1
To lose a chance to do something by being too slow or late.
out of the question
Neutral · CEFR B1
completely impossible or not permitted
when pigs fly
Informal · CEFR B1
Used to say that something will never happen.
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.