grab at straws

A form of grasp at straws — To guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information.

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Meanings

verbgrab at straws (third-person singular simple present grabs at straws, present participle grabbing at straws, simple past and past participle grabbed at straws)

present singular third person grabs at straws · participle present grabbing at straws · participle past grabbed at straws · past grabbed at straws

  1. alternativeAlternative form of grasp at straws.
Cite this entry
APA

grab at straws. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grab%20at%20straws

MLA

“grab at straws.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grab%20at%20straws. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “grab at straws,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/grab%20at%20straws.

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