straw
A thin tube you use to drink a liquid from a cup or bottle.
A thin, usually plastic or paper tube used to suck liquids from a container into the mouth.
The dry stems of wheat or similar plants, used for animals or making things like hats or roofs.
The dry stalks of grain plants such as wheat or barley, left after the grain has been removed, used especially as bedding for animals or for thatching roofs.
Something not important or not worth much.
Something considered to have little or no value or importance.
- Base: straw
- Plural: straw, straws
a man of straw
1Person with no real strength or power
A person who seems important but has no real power or strength.
- The so-called leader was just a man of straw, controlled by others.
- Without his team, he was a man of straw.
straw man
1Misrepresented argument easy to refute
An argument that someone makes up to be easy to attack, instead of dealing with the real issue.
- His criticism was based on a straw man rather than my actual point.
- She accused him of creating a straw man to win the debate.
the last straw
1Final problem causing breaking point
The last small problem that makes you lose patience or take action after many other problems.
- When he missed the meeting again, it was the last straw for his boss.
- Her rude comment was the last straw that ended their friendship.
clutch at straws
1Try desperate measures without hope
To try anything, even if it will probably not work, because you are in trouble and have no other choice.
- After losing his job, he was clutching at straws by applying for positions he wasn’t qualified for.
- They were clutching at straws, hoping for a miracle.
clutch at straws
2Make hopeless attempts when desperate
To try anything to solve a problem, even if it will probably not work, because you are desperate.
- With no evidence left, the detective was clutching at straws.
- He tried every strange remedy, clutching at straws to cure his illness.