A small and seemingly insignificant addition to a burden that renders it too much to bear; the small thing which causes failure, or causes inability or unwillingness to endure any more of something.

Etymology:

  • Possibly from the proverb, recorded by Thomas Fuller in his Gnomologia as "Tis the last feather that breaks the horse's back." This comes from an Arab proverb about loading up a camel beyond its capacity to move.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'the straw that broke the camel's back':

the straw that broke the camel's backMy patience has finally run out.
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نی که کمر شتر را شکست

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    "the straw that broke the camel's back." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/the-straw-that-broke-the-camels-back_7431>.

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