grasping at straws

Related to grasping at straws: be in touch, same old same old

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.

grasping at straws

Fig. to depend on something that is useless; to make a futile attempt at something. John couldn't answer the teacher's question. He was just grasping at straws. There I was, grasping at straws, with no one to help me.
See also: grasping, 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.
See also:
  • clutch at a straw
  • clutch at straws
  • clutch/grasp at straws
  • grasp at a straw
  • grasp at straws
  • grasp at straws, to
  • grasping
  • catch at (a) straw(s)
  • Trash it!
  • take out the trash
References in periodicals archive
Not only are Dobyns and Euler grasping at straws, they are groping after straw men.
Their family's upset, they're upset, and they're grasping at straws. You put this article in front of them, they're going to be hopeful."
That is not to say that his conclusions are all invalid, but there seems to be enough "grasping at straws," as in the case of A Love Supreme, to weaken the author's argument in the eyes and ears of a musician.
The commoners of the 14th century can be excused for their flawed "solutions" to the plague, because they did not understand the mystery of contagion and were therefore grasping at straws. But those who would reform the schools in the late 20th century through the application of national goals, standards, and assessments are far less easily forgiven.
But at least one researcher expressed concern that NASA may be grasping at straws in an effort to salvage some of the scientific treasures the agency had hoped Mars Observer would radio home.
Once grasping at straws, I now see signs of the tide turning-at last!
'All told, protestant Marcos is desperately grasping at straws by hurling unfounded accusations without an iota of evidence,' Macalintal said.
Eric Hughes, Kilmarnock, said: "The grasping at straws since the Costa Rica defeat is pathetic.
[She's] grasping at straws," Zolciak told (https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/kim-zolciak-slams-nene-leakes-racism-comment-interview/) Us Weekly about Leakes.
Making us look Like a bunch of clowns People come here From near and far So with your brush Don't use the same tar Us Liverpool girls Stand united and proud Not hide behind walls We speak out loud You're grasping at straws Is all I can say The best by far Is Ladies' Day Christine Flynn, via email
You usually have the ability to figure out the difference between a business grasping at straws with no idea of what to do and one struggling but moving toward viable, workable plans.
But he also acknowledged that fixating on that would probably be "grasping at straws a little" after he was disappointed by his side's overall display.
US President Barack Obama was grasping at straws when he gave Iraq's new leader a ringing endorsement after they first met in September and he described Al Abadi as "the right person" to lead Iraq as it was under attack by the militants of Daesh (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).
Courtney Love, the flamboyant lead singer for alternative rock group Hole, weighed in on Monday, posting a photo of the sea's surface with arrows she added and the word "Plane?" Malaysian authorities have declined to comment on much of the speculation, and experts are reluctant to rule out all but the most outlandish notions, leaving much on the table and adding to the sense of a global response grasping at straws. "There are all these polarising theories with so little definitive information that is verified," said Paul Yap, an aviation lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore.
Here's what you call grasping at straws: One Toronto writer pointed out that when the Bruins blew that 3-0 series lead to the Flyers in 2010, two of the games Boston lost were played on May 10 and 12 - which are the dates of Games 5 and 6 of this series.