Example
“His rudeness to the waiter was the last straw, and she ended the date.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
bad news
Informal · CEFR A2
an unpleasant piece of information; (informal) a person or thing likely to cause trouble
red flag
Neutral · CEFR B1
a warning sign that something is wrong
the writing on the wall
Neutral · CEFR B1
clear and unmistakable signs that failure or disaster is coming
wake-up call
Neutral · CEFR B1
an event that forces you to realize a problem you were ignoring
push the envelope
Neutral · CEFR B2
to go beyond the limits of what is known or accepted
the calm before the storm
Neutral · CEFR B2
a quiet period immediately before trouble, intense activity, or chaos
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.