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”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

last straw

"There are people who can't afford to live in cities, rents are out of step with salaries," she said, describing the eviction of Maricarmen as "the last straw".

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

"I looked online and saw no response from Target," said Macmillan, who had worked for the company in Texas since 2021, calling it "the last straw".

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 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

As if this was the last straw Sam burst into tears.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

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