clutch grasp at straws Idiom, Proverb

grasp at straws

try something with little hope of succeeding, depend on something that is useless in a time of trouble He is grasping at straws. He will never find enough money to pay next month

catch at straws

depend on sth．that is useless or unable to help in a time of trouble or danger；try sth．with little hope of succeeding捞救命稻草（将要溺死之人连一根草也要去抓）
To depend on your memory without studying for a test is to grasp at straws．应付考试只凭记忆而不学习那是枉费心机。

cluth at straws

grasp/catch/cluth at straws

clutch at straws

Idiom(s): clutch at straws

Theme: HOPE

to continue to seek solutions, ideas, or hopes that are insubstantial.
• When you talk of inheriting money, you are just clutching at straws.
• That is not a real solution to the problem. You are just clutching at straws.

grasp at straws|at straws|clutch|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 at straws. The robber clutched at straws to make excuses. He said he wasn't in the country when the robbery happened.

draw straws

draw straws
Also, draw lots. Decide by a lottery using straws of different lengths. For example, Let's draw straws to see who will write the first draft. The lots version dates from the 1400s, whereas straws dates from the 1800s. Both have replaced the still older draw cuts. Another variant is draw the short straw, meaning to be the one so selected for a particular task.

More Idioms/Phrases

draw in one's horns draw in the reins draw straws draw the curtain drawer drawing board dream dream come true, a