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grasp at straws. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
grasp at straws, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
grasp at straws in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
In reference to a drowning person grabbing any floating object, even a straw, to save themselves. First used by Thomas More in A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (1534).
Pronunciation
Verb
grasp at straws (third-person singular simple present grasps at straws, present participle grasping at straws, simple past and past participle grasped at straws)
- (idiomatic) To guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information.
- I've never met his mother, so I'm grasping at straws for an appropriate gift for her.
- (idiomatic) To get hold of any help, even if it is insignificant.
Derived terms
Translations
References
- Titelman, Gregory Y., "The Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" (Random House, New York, 1996).