draw straws
Also, draw lots. Decide by a lottery using straws of different lengths. For example, Let's draw straws to see who will write the first draft. The lots version dates from the 1400s, whereas straws dates from the 1800s. Both have replaced the still older draw cuts. Another variant is draw the short straw, meaning to be the one so selected for a particular task.
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Words nearby draw straws
draw poker, draw runner, drawshave, drawsheet, draw shot, draw straws, drawstring, draw table, draw the curtain, draw the line, draw the line at
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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