grasp at a straw

  • 1grasp\ at\ a\ straw — • grasp at straws • clutch at straws v. phr. To depend on something that is useless or unable to help in a time of trouble or danger; try something with little hope of succeeding. To depend on your memory without studying for a test is to grasp… …

    Словарь американских идиом

  • 2catch, clutch, or grasp at a straw or at straws — idi catch, clutch, or grasp at a straw or at straws, to pursue even the slightest hope or possibility out of desperation …

    From formal English to slang

  • 3grasp at straws — ● straw * * * clutch/grasp/at straws phrase to try to find anything at all that will help you or give you hope in a difficult situation, when it is likely that you will find nothing She knew she was clutching at straws, thinking he might help her …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 4straw — [strô] n. [ME stra < OE streaw, akin to streawian: see STREW] 1. hollow stalks or stems of grain after threshing, collectively: used for fodder, for bedding, for making hats, etc. 2. a single one of such stalks 3. such a stalk or, now esp., a… …

    English World dictionary

  • 5grasp — v. & n. v. 1 tr. a clutch at; seize greedily. b hold firmly; grip. 2 intr. (foll. by at) try to seize; accept avidly. 3 tr. understand or realize (a fact or meaning). n. 1 a firm hold; a grip. 2 (foll. by of) a mastery or control (a grasp of the… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 6straw — See: GIVE A HANG, GRASP AT A STRAW, GRASP AT STRAWS, LAST STRAW or STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMEL S BACK, MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 7straw — See: GIVE A HANG, GRASP AT A STRAW, GRASP AT STRAWS, LAST STRAW or STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMEL S BACK, MAKE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW …

    Dictionary of American idioms

  • 8straw — See: give a hang, grasp at a straw, grasp at straws, last straw or straw that breaks the camel s back, make bricks without straw …

    Словарь американских идиом

  • 9straw — strawless, adj. strawlike, adj. /straw/, n. 1. a single stalk or stem, esp. of certain species of grain, chiefly wheat, rye, oats, and barley. 2. a mass of such stalks, esp. after drying and threshing, used as fodder. 3. material, fibers, etc.,… …

    Universalium

  • 10straw — n. 1 dry cut stalks of grain for use as fodder or as material for thatching, packing, making hats, etc. 2 a single stalk or piece of straw. 3 a thin hollow paper or plastic tube for sucking drink from a glass etc. 4 an insignificant thing (not… …

    Useful english dictionary