Definition of grasps at straws

grasp at straws    

verb

• to make a futile attempt.

  My insurance rates are pretty high. I called the Insurance Board to see if the company is meeting all state guidelines, but basically at this point I'm just grasping at straws.

  • See more words with the same meaning: to attempt, try.
  • See more words with the same meaning: to lose, be defeated, fail.

  Last edited on Aug 18 2011. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Sep 09 2009.

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Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'to attempt, try':
give it a whirl	Definitions include: to attempt something.
dry run	Definitions include: a practice attempt, without performing the actual action.
effort	Definitions include: to try to determine.
go for	Definitions include: to try to attain or achieve.
get back on the horse	Definitions include: to continue trying something that one has had difficulty with in the past.
gun for	Definitions include: to attempt to reach a goal.
shot	Definitions include: broken.
give the old college try	Definitions include: to make a strong attempt.
have a go	Definitions include: to make an attempt.
have a whack at	Definitions include: to attempt.
do over	Definitions include: to mistreat.
crack	Definitions include: something that is so exceptionally good or fun it could be as addictive as crack (i.e. crack cocaine).
wing it	Definitions include: to attempt something without preparation.
give it a shot	Definitions include: to attempt.
Hail Mary	Definitions include: the occurrence of telling a woman that one has accidentally gotten pregnant that one loves her and to convince her that having an abortion will be the best thing for the relationship.
(show 1 more)
Other terms relating to 'to lose, be defeated, fail':
trainwreck	Definitions include: a total failure.
go belly up	Definitions include: to fail.
blow it	Definitions include: to completely fail a task.
do a number on	Definitions include: to do a poor job.
ownage	Definitions include: anything great, cool, awesome.
get (one's) *ss handed to	Definitions include: to be severely defeated.
jobber	Definitions include: a "professional wrestler" who loses matches so as to build up a featured wrestler's win/loss record and crowd appeal.
get b*tch-slapped	Definitions include: to be bitch-slapped.
buckle	Definitions include: to fail or err due to pressure.
jabroni	Definitions include: in "professional wrestling," a wrestler who intentionally loses to improve the image of the winner.
look like a monkey f*cking a football	Definitions include: to perform terribly.
pillage	Definitions include: to defeat soundly.
BBE	Definitions include: acronym of "Biggest Beating Ever," which can refer to "beating" as in a severe physical attack, or a severe defeat e.g. in a competitive sport.
go up in smoke	Definitions include: to fail.
whipping	Definitions include: a defeat.
(show 18 more)

Slang terms with the same root words

Other terms relating to 'at':
aim Archie at the adamant	Definitions include: of a male, to urinate.
atcha	Definitions include: "at your".
at loggerheads with	Definitions include: in disagreement with.
ATM	Definitions include: acronym for "ass-to-mouth", i.e. a sex act in which anal sex is immediately followed by fellatio or cunnilingus.
at (one's) wit's end	Definitions include: extremely aggravated.
at scale	Definitions include: with heavy usage.
at the drop of a hat	Definitions include: at any moment; without persuasion
at the end of (one's) rope	Definitions include: unable to tolerate any more.
back at the ranch	Definitions include: exclamation useful when the conversation is going off tangent.
back at you	Definitions include: and the same to you.
bark at the ants	Definitions include: to vomit outdoors.
check at the door	Definitions include: to get rid of before entering a venue.
chomp at the bit	Definitions include: to be eager.
clock in at	Definitions include: to measure.
come at	Definitions include: to be aggressive towards.
(show 42 morehide)
Other terms relating to 'grasp':
grasp the nettle	Definitions include: to boldly deal with a problem.
Other terms relating to 'straw':
last straw, the	Definitions include: the final incident before decisive action will be taken.

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