Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
to clutch at straws
idiom
/tə klʌtʃ æt strɔːz/
Definition
To try to find some hope or support in a difficult situation, often by relying on unlikely or unpromising options.
Examples
- After losing his job, he started to clutch at straws, hoping that a friend could offer him freelance work.
- In the last few minutes of the game, the team began to clutch at straws, trying every trick to score and win.
Meaning
This phrase means to look for any possible way out or solution, even if it’s not very likely to help.
Synonyms
- desperate measures
- grasping at straws
- looking for a lifeline
