Grasping at Straws – Meaning, Origin & Usage

Ever heard the phrase “grasping at straws” and wondered what  on earth it meant? If so, then this is the place for you. Here, we will cover what the idiom means, how it originated, and how the phrase is used today, with some handy examples. Then we’ll wrap up with similar and alternative sayings and how they compare.

Let’s get straight to it!

What does the phrase “grasping at straws” mean?

The phrase “grasping at straws” means to make a desperate attempt to save oneself or succeed in a situation where the chances are very slim, often by resorting to unlikely or flimsy solutions. Or in other words, trying to find a solution or hope in a seemingly hopeless situation by clinging to very weak or improbable options. 

The historical origins of the phrase “grasping at straws”

Before people began using the phrase “grasping at straws, they previously used the idiom “clutching at straws”. The phrase “clutching at straws” is derived from a proverb found in Thomas More’s work “Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation” published in 1534, which states “A drowning man will clutch at straws”.

Later the phrase “clutching at straws” came to be used in a figurative sense, with its metaphorical meaning of trying to improve a difficult or distressing situation, using methods that are a bit desperate and don’t seem likely to work.  

Use of the phrase “grasping at straws”, with examples

Here are some examples of the phrase in use:

• He was grasping at straws when he tried to argue that a minor detail in the contract would change the whole outcome.
• He knew only too well that had lost the argument, but he kept grasping at straws.
• The doctor knew the patient was very sick, but he was grasping at straws by suggesting a new experimental treatment with little chance of success.
• After losing her job, she started grasping at straws by applying for any position he could find, even if it was far below his qualifications.

Similar and alternative sayings and expressions

There’s also a very similar saying, which is “clutching at straws” which means the same thing. But not all English idioms that feature straws carry the same meaning. For example, the phrase “straw that broke the camel’s back” means “a minor action that causes a big reaction due to a series of previous small actions”. Similarly, the idiom “the last straw” refers to the final bad event in a series of bad events.

Final word

So, in short, the phrase “grasping at straws” means “trying to improve a difficult situation, using methods that are a bit desperate and don’t seem likely to work”. The phrase is a relatively old one dating back to the 1500’s.  It originates from the imagery of a drowning person clutching at straws in the water to stay afloat, even though they offer little support. 

Be careful not to confuse the phrase with other English idioms featuring the word “straw” or “straws”, as these often have very different meanings.