Grasp at straws Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈɡɹæsp/ /ˈæt/ /ˈstɹɔz

GRASP-at-STRAWZ

UK

ɡɹˈɑːsp/ /ˈæt/ /stɹˈɔːz

grah-SPAT-strawz

释义

To try any possible solution, even if it is unlikely to work, usually because you are desperate.

用法与细微差别

Informal and idiomatic; often shows someone is desperate or hopeless. Can be used to gently criticize a person's last-ditch efforts. Common with situations where resources or options are running out.

• Spanish: aferrarse a un clavo ardiendo - intentar lo imposible
• Portuguese (BR): agarrar-se a um fio de esperança - tentar o impossível
• Portuguese (PT): agarrar-se a uma palha - tentar o impossível
• Chinese (Simplified): 抓救命稻草 - 做徒劳的努力
• Chinese (Traditional): 抓救命稻草 - 徒勞無功的嘗試
• Hindi: तिनके का सहारा लेना - बेकार उम्मीद करना
• Arabic: التشبث بقشة - محاولة يائسة
• Bengali: আকাশ-কুসুম কল্পনা করা - মরিয়া হয়ে শেষ চেষ্টা করা
• Russian: за соломинку хвататься - хвататься за последнюю надежду
• Japanese: 藁にもすがる - 必死に無理な方法を試す
• Vietnamese: vớ lấy cọng rơm - cố gắng tuyệt vọng
• Korean: 지푸라기라도 잡다 - 절박하게 아무 수나 쓰다
• Turkish: çareyi denemek - son çarelere başvurmak
• Urdu: تنکوں کا سہارا لینا - آخری امید پکڑنا
• Indonesian: berharap pada hal yang mustahil - mencari akal asal-asalan

例句

After failing all the tests, he started to grasp at straws by copying his neighbor's answers.

basic

The company was losing money and began to grasp at straws to stay open.

basic

She called every doctor she could find, grasping at straws for a cure.

basic

When my laptop wouldn't turn on, I tried everything—even shaking it—just grasping at straws.

natural

Honestly, suggesting extra coffee will fix the problem is just grasping at straws.

natural

He knew blaming his shoes for losing the race was just grasping at straws.

natural