Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - straw

(straws) 1. Straw consists of the dried, yellowish stalks from crops such as wheat or barley. The barn was full of bales of straw... ...a wide-brimmed straw hat. N-UNCOUNT 2. A straw is a thin tube of paper or plastic, which you use to suck a drink into your mouth. ...a bottle of lemonade with a straw in it. N-COUNT 3. If you are clutching at straws or grasping at straws, you are trying unusual or extreme ideas or methods because other ideas or methods have failed. ...a badly thought-out scheme from a Government clutching at straws. PHRASE: V inflects 4. If an event is the last straw or the straw that broke the camel’s back, it is the latest in a series of unpleasant or undesirable events, and makes you feel that you cannot tolerate a situation any longer. For him the Church’s decision to allow the ordination of women had been the last straw... PHRASE: usu v-link PHR 5. If you draw the short straw, you are chosen from a number of people to perform a job or duty that you will not enjoy. ...if a few of your guests have drawn the short straw and agreed to drive others home after your summer barbecue. PHRASE: usu v PHR STRAW POLL (straw polls) A straw poll is the unofficial questioning of a group of people to find out their opinion about something. A straw poll conducted at the end of the meeting found most people agreed with Mr Forth... N-COUNT