grasp at straws

verb

To guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information.

“I've never met his mother, so I'm grasping at straws for an appropriate gift for her.”

Similar
clutch at strawsclutch at a straw
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Meanings

verbgrasp at straws (third-person singular simple present grasps at straws, present participle grasping at straws, simple past and past participle grasped at straws)

present singular third person grasps at straws · participle present grasping at straws · participle past grasped at straws · past grasped at straws · alternative grab at straws · alternative grab at a straw · alternative grasp at a straw

  1. idiomaticTo guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information.

    I've never met his mother, so I'm grasping at straws for an appropriate gift for her.

    Synonyms: clutch at straws, clutch at a straw

  2. idiomaticTo obtain any form of help, even if it is insignificant.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information.

Similar
clutch at strawsclutch at a straw
Also see
clutch at a strawclutch at strawsgrasp for straws

Origin

In reference to a drowning person grabbing any floating object, even a straw, to save themselves. First used by Thomas More in A Dialogue of Comfort Against Tribulation (1534).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 捕風捉影 /捕风捉影
  • 捕風捉影 /捕风捉影 (bǔfēngzhuōyǐng)guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
Czech chytat se stébla, chytat se jako tonoucí stébla
  • chytat se stéblaguess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
  • chytat se jako tonoucí stéblaguess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
Finnish tarttua oljenkorsiin
  • tarttua oljenkorsiinguess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
German nach jedem Strohhalm greifen
  • nach jedem Strohhalm greifenguess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
Italian arrampicarsi sugli specchi
  • arrampicarsi sugli specchiguess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
Polish chwytać się brzytwy
  • chwytać się brzytwyguess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
Russian хвата́ться за соло́минку
  • хвата́ться за соло́минку (xvatátʹsja za solóminku)guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
Spanish agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo
  • agarrarse a un clavo ardiendoguess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
Swedish gripa efter halmstrån
  • gripa efter halmstrånguess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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