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grasp at straws

To guess randomly at or pursue any apparent option, as due to lack of options or information.

Etymology:

  • This idiom refers to a drowning man grabbing any floating object, even a straw, to save himself. It was first used by Thomas More in A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation.
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I never met his mother, so I'm grasping at straws for an appropriate gift for her.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'grasp at straws':

Grasp at StrawsMaking a futile effort at something, trying to find a way in trouble when it is unlikely to succeed
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to grasp at straws

grasp all, lose allgrasp the nettle

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