clutch/grasp at straws

clutch at straws

1. To make a desperate attempt to salvage a bad situation. A: "But what about all those times I took the trash out when you hadn't even asked me to?" B: "That has nothing to do with why you're in trouble now, so stop clutching at straws."

2. To consider positive suggestions or thoughts in a bad situation. OK, you're just clutching at straws now, fantasizing about a potential buyer when your house has been on the market for months.

See also: clutch, straw

grasp at straws

To make a desperate attempt to salvage a bad situation. A: "But what about all those times I took the trash out when you hadn't even asked me to?" B: "That has nothing to do with why you're in trouble now, so stop grasping at straws."

clutch at straws

Fig. to continue to seek solutions, ideas, or hopes that are insubstantial. When you talk of cashing in quick on your inventions, you are just clutching at straws. That is not a real solution to the problem. You are just clutching at straws.

See also: clutch, straw

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

grasp at straws

Also, clutch at straws. Make a desperate attempt at saving oneself. For example, He had lost the argument, but he kept grasping at straws, naming numerous previous cases that had little to do with this one . This metaphoric expression alludes to a drowning person trying to save himself by grabbing at flimsy reeds. First recorded in 1534, the term was used figuratively by the late 1600s.

clutch at straws

mainly BRITISH or

grasp at straws

1. If you clutch at straws or grasp at straws, you try to do something that is very unlikely to succeed because you are desperate or have tried everything else. This was a desperate speech, made by a man clutching at straws to retain his career. I was probably grasping at straws in a search for a cure, but I thought I would give the therapy a go.

2. If you clutch at straws or grasp at straws, you try to find hope in a situation where there is no reason to feel hope. By this time, Rosa's behaviour was extremely strange and we were all very concerned. I told myself that at least she still had a job, but I was clutching at straws. Note: This expression comes from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw. People are still clinging to the hope that something will happen — but I think it's like a drowning man trying to clutch at a straw. Note: The image here is of a drowning person who is desperately trying to take hold of anything to save himself or herself, even a straw.

See also: clutch, straw

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

clutch (or grasp or catch) at straws

do, say, or believe anything, however unlikely or inadequate, which seems to offer hope in a desperate situation.

This expression comes from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw , which is recorded in various forms since the mid 16th century.

See also: clutch, straw

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

clutch/grasp at ˈstraws

try all possible means to find a solution or some hope in a difficult or unpleasant situation, even though this seems very unlikely: The doctors have told him that he has only 6 months to live, but he won’t accept it. He’s going to a new clinic in Switzerland next week, but he’s just clutching at straws.

词组	clutch/grasp at straws
释义	clutch/grasp at straws clutch at straws 1. To make a desperate attempt to salvage a bad situation. A: "But what about all those times I took the trash out when you hadn't even asked me to?" B: "That has nothing to do with why you're in trouble now, so stop clutching at straws." 2. To consider positive suggestions or thoughts in a bad situation. OK, you're just clutching at straws now, fantasizing about a potential buyer when your house has been on the market for months. See also: clutch, straw grasp at straws To make a desperate attempt to salvage a bad situation. A: "But what about all those times I took the trash out when you hadn't even asked me to?" B: "That has nothing to do with why you're in trouble now, so stop grasping at straws." See also: grasp, straw Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. clutch at straws Fig. to continue to seek solutions, ideas, or hopes that are insubstantial. When you talk of cashing in quick on your inventions, you are just clutching at straws. That is not a real solution to the problem. You are just clutching at straws. See also: clutch, straw McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. grasp at straws Also, clutch at straws. Make a desperate attempt at saving oneself. For example, He had lost the argument, but he kept grasping at straws, naming numerous previous cases that had little to do with this one . This metaphoric expression alludes to a drowning person trying to save himself by grabbing at flimsy reeds. First recorded in 1534, the term was used figuratively by the late 1600s. See also: grasp, straw The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. clutch at straws mainly BRITISH or grasp at straws 1. If you clutch at straws or grasp at straws, you try to do something that is very unlikely to succeed because you are desperate or have tried everything else. This was a desperate speech, made by a man clutching at straws to retain his career. I was probably grasping at straws in a search for a cure, but I thought I would give the therapy a go. 2. If you clutch at straws or grasp at straws, you try to find hope in a situation where there is no reason to feel hope. By this time, Rosa's behaviour was extremely strange and we were all very concerned. I told myself that at least she still had a job, but I was clutching at straws. Note: This expression comes from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw. People are still clinging to the hope that something will happen — but I think it's like a drowning man trying to clutch at a straw. Note: The image here is of a drowning person who is desperately trying to take hold of anything to save himself or herself, even a straw. See also: clutch, straw Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. clutch (or grasp or catch) at straws do, say, or believe anything, however unlikely or inadequate, which seems to offer hope in a desperate situation. This expression comes from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw , which is recorded in various forms since the mid 16th century. See also: clutch, straw Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary clutch/grasp at ˈstraws try all possible means to find a solution or some hope in a difficult or unpleasant situation, even though this seems very unlikely: The doctors have told him that he has only 6 months to live, but he won’t accept it. He’s going to a new clinic in Switzerland next week, but he’s just clutching at straws. See also: clutch, grasp, straw Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: clutch at a straw clutch at straws grasp at a straw grasp at straws grasp at straws, to grasping grasping at straws catch at (a) straw(s) Trash it! take out the trash
随便看	help off with help on help oneself help (oneself) to help (oneself) (to something) help on with help out help out with help out with (someone or something) help (someone) along help (someone) back (to some place) help (someone) down (from something) help (someone) get a foothold in (something) help (someone) in help (someone) into (something) help (someone) off help (someone) off with (something) help (someone) on help (someone) on with (something) help (someone) out of a fix help (someone) up (from something) help to help up help with help with (someone or something)