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Grasp At Straws

What Does "Grasp At Straws" Mean?

homeidiomsGrasp At Straws
"Grasp at straws" is an English idiom. It means "to make a desperate or futile attempt to find a solution or hope in a difficult or hopeless situation."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "grasp at straws" used in a sentence:
  • When their business was failing, they began to grasp at straws, trying any strategy to stay afloat.
  • The accused criminal, with no alibi, started to grasp at straws in an attempt to prove their innocence.
  • In the face of adversity, people sometimes grasp at straws to find even the smallest glimmer of optimism.
meaning for grasp at straws

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Grasp At Straws" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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