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

See Examples For:

last straw

The practice field naming rights proved to be the last straw in what was already a fraught relationship with USC.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

The "last straw" occurred when Littlewood travelled to Brandenburg, Germany, to compete in the European Canoe Polo Championships in September 2023.

From BBC ● May 31, 2026

"This is the last straw," said Meghna Sen, a 17-year-old aspiring psychology student.

From Barron's ● May 17, 2026

“It could be a real easy excuse for us to say, ‘Alright, that’s finally the last straw that’s gonna keep us from doing this thing,’” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026

Getting mixed up by the photographer seemed to be the last straw.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns