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Definition of grasp 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': | |
| Definitions include: to attempt something. | |
| Definitions include: a practice attempt, without performing the actual action. | |
| Definitions include: to try to determine. | |
| Definitions include: to try to attain or achieve. | |
| Definitions include: to continue trying something that one has had difficulty with in the past. | |
| Definitions include: to attempt to reach a goal. | |
| Definitions include: broken. | |
| Definitions include: to make a strong attempt. | |
| Definitions include: to make an attempt. | |
| Definitions include: to attempt. | |
| Definitions include: to mistreat. | |
| Definitions include: something that is so exceptionally good or fun it could be as addictive as crack (i.e. crack cocaine). | |
| Definitions include: to attempt something without preparation. | |
| Definitions include: to attempt. | |
| 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. | |
Other terms relating to 'to lose, be defeated, fail': | |
| Definitions include: a total failure. | |
| Definitions include: to fail. | |
| Definitions include: to completely fail a task. | |
| Definitions include: to do a poor job. | |
| Definitions include: anything great, cool, awesome. | |
| Definitions include: to be severely defeated. | |
| Definitions include: a "professional wrestler" who loses matches so as to build up a featured wrestler's win/loss record and crowd appeal. | |
| Definitions include: to be bitch-slapped. | |
| Definitions include: to fail or err due to pressure. | |
| Definitions include: in "professional wrestling," a wrestler who intentionally loses to improve the image of the winner. | |
| Definitions include: to perform terribly. | |
| Definitions include: to defeat soundly. | |
| 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. | |
| Definitions include: to fail. | |
| Definitions include: a defeat. | |
Slang terms with the same root words
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Other terms relating to 'at': | |
| Definitions include: of a male, to urinate. | |
| Definitions include: "at your". | |
| Definitions include: in disagreement with. | |
| Definitions include: acronym for "ass-to-mouth", i.e. a sex act in which anal sex is immediately followed by fellatio or cunnilingus. | |
| Definitions include: extremely aggravated. | |
| Definitions include: with heavy usage. | |
| Definitions include: at any moment; without persuasion | |
| Definitions include: unable to tolerate any more. | |
| Definitions include: exclamation useful when the conversation is going off tangent. | |
| Definitions include: and the same to you. | |
| Definitions include: to vomit outdoors. | |
| Definitions include: to get rid of before entering a venue. | |
| Definitions include: to be eager. | |
| Definitions include: to measure. | |
| Definitions include: to be aggressive towards. | |
Other terms relating to 'grasp': | |
| Definitions include: to boldly deal with a problem. | |
Other terms relating to 'straw': | |
| Definitions include: the final incident before decisive action will be taken. | |
How common is this slang?
| I use it | (8) |  |
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| No longer use it | (0) | |
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| Heard it but never used it | (4) | |
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| Have never heard it | (1) | |
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