Clutching at straws

Posted by R. Berg on January 05, 2004

In Reply to: Clutching at straws posted by Amelia on January 05, 2004

: does anyone know the origin of clutching at straws, or maybe, grasping at straws.

An old proverb that goes something like "Drowning men will grasp at straws," meaning that people who feel desperate will try anything, even if it's unlikely to help.

• Clutching at straws ESC 05/January/04