grasp at straws

Idioms  

1. Also, clutch at straws. Make a desperate attempt at saving oneself. For example, He had lost the argument, but he kept grasping at straws, naming numerous previous cases that had little to do with this one. This metaphoric expression alludes to a drowning person trying to save himself by grabbing at flimsy reeds. First recorded in 1534, the term was used figuratively by the late 1600s.

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Example Sentences

And they grasp at straws to “prove” themselves right.

From Washington Post

“I’m afraid we’re all trying to grasp at straws. We’re trying to find the golden solution: So we just get enough vaccine and we push enough vaccine to people and that’s going to take care of it,’” he said.

From The Guardian

“I’m afraid we’re all trying to grasp at straws. We’re trying to find the golden solution: ‘So we just get enough vaccine and we push enough vaccine to people and that’s going to take care of it,’” he said.

From Washington Times

But it is only natural that we don’t like our confinement one bit — and understandable that some of us grasp at straws to try to rationalize our way out of it.

From Washington Post

I think we as home cooks get so fatigued with basic ingredients and preparations that we grasp at straws, adding a handful of this or a spoonful of that to whatever we’re cooking just to compensate for our own boredom.

From New York Times