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

"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

For many The Sims fans, this is the last straw.

From Slate • Oct. 1, 2025

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

From BBC • Jul. 30, 2025

The third visit to the shrink, and the last straw, came in grade six.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah