Clutch at straws

Clutch at straws
  If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws.

Dictionary of English idioms . . 2014.

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  • clutch at straws — clutch/grasp/at straws phrase to try to find anything at all that will help you or give you hope in a difficult situation, when it is likely that you will find nothing She knew she was clutching at straws, thinking he might help her. Thesaurus:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • clutch at straws — If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • clutch at straws — ► clutch at straws resort in desperation to unlikely or inadequate means of salvation. [ORIGIN: from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw.] Main Entry: ↑straw …   English terms dictionary

  • clutch\ at\ straws — • grasp at straws • clutch at straws v. phr. To depend on something that is useless or unable to help in a time of trouble or danger; try something with little hope of succeeding. To depend on your memory without studying for a test is to grasp… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • clutch at straws — 1. to try any method, even those that are not likely to succeed, because you are in such a bad situation. He s hoping that this new treatment will help him but I think he s clutching at straws. (usually in continuous tenses) 2. to try to find… …   New idioms dictionary

  • clutch at straws —    If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • clutch — 1 verb (I) to hold something or someone tightly, especially because you are frightened, in pain, or do not want to lose something: Tom fell to the ground clutching his stomach. | A woman clutching a baby stole an elderly woman s purse. clutch at… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • clutch — [[t]klʌ̱tʃ[/t]] clutches, clutching, clutched 1) VERB If you clutch at something or clutch something, you hold it tightly, usually because you are afraid or anxious. [V at n] I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support... [V n] She was… …   English dictionary

  • clutch/grasp at straws — to try to solve a problem by doing things that probably will not help I asked her for a loan. I didn t think she d agree, but at that point I was grasping at straws. • • • Main Entry: ↑straw …   Useful english dictionary

  • clutch (or grasp or catch) at straws — resort in desperation to unlikely or inadequate means of salvation. [from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw.] → straw …   English new terms dictionary

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