clutch at straws

clutch 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.


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 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

  • 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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