last straw

American  

noun

1. the last of a succession of irritations, incidents, remarks, etc., that leads to a loss of patience, a disaster, etc..

   He has been late before, but this is the last straw.

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last straw British  

noun

1. the final irritation or problem that stretches one's endurance or patience beyond the limit

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Etymology

Origin of last straw

First recorded in 1840–50; after the proverb “It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back”

Example Sentences

I guess that was the last straw—old belly-button lint—because we never did that again.

From Literature

The shock is the last straw; the building’s integrity is officially compromised.

From Literature

Some stores even staged walkouts, citing the dress code change as the last straw in a slew of new policies Starbucks that employees say are stifling and damaging their ability to properly do their jobs.

From Salon

Tran’s medical bills from an ongoing battle with diabetes and cataracts and the costs of the increased security measures were the last straw for the family and the market.

From Los Angeles Times

But pictures of Palestinian children in Gaza starving to death were the last straw after so much killing and devastation.

From BBC