draw straws

verb

To decide at random by drawing (selecting randomly between) straws, sticks, etc., one of which differs from the others (typically by being shorter), held in a person's hand so as to conceal which is the different one. Typically, whoever draws the short straw must complete some undesirable task. Alternatively, whoever draws the longest straw gets a desired position.

“They drew straws to see who had to wash the dishes.”

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Meanings

verbdraw straws (third-person singular simple present draws straws, present participle drawing straws, simple past drew straws, past participle drawn straws)

present singular third person draws straws · participle present drawing straws · past drew straws · participle past drawn straws

  1. To decide at random by drawing (selecting randomly between) straws, sticks, etc., one of which differs from the others (typically by being shorter), held in a person's hand so as to conceal which is the different one. Typically, whoever draws the short straw must complete some undesirable task. Alternatively, whoever draws the longest straw gets a desired position.

    They drew straws to see who had to wash the dishes.

    1 more example

    We drew straws, and today's my day to go to school. We're all taking turns so we each only go once a week.

    1990 January 23, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic)
  2. broadlyTo decide by any means of chance.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 抓鬮 /抓阄, 抽籤 /抽签
  • 抓鬮 /抓阄 (zhuājiū)decide at random
  • 抽籤 /抽签 (chōuqiān)decide at random
Finnish vetää pitkää tikkua
  • vetää pitkää tikkuadecide at random
French tirer à la courte paille
  • tirer à la courte pailledecide at random
German Stöckchen ziehen, Streichhölzer ziehen
  • Stöckchen ziehendecide at random
  • Streichhölzer ziehendecide at random
Hungarian sorsot húz
  • sorsot húzdecide at random
Polish ciągnąć losy
  • ciągnąć losydecide at random
Cite this entry
APA

draw straws. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/draw%20straws

MLA

“draw straws.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/draw%20straws. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “draw straws,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/draw%20straws.

Source: draw straws on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.