Idiom
The last straw
The last straw is the final problem in a series that makes a situation unbearable and pushes someone to react.
How people use it
The last straw is usually small on its own; what matters is everything that came before it: "The noise was bad, but the 3 a.m. party was the last straw." People say "that's the last straw" when their patience runs out, often right before quitting, complaining or leaving. A longer form is "the straw that broke the camel's back." Many people also say "the final straw," which means the same thing. The tone is informal to neutral.
Also said: the final straw, the straw that broke the camel's back.
Examples
- When the printer jammed for the fifth time, it was the last straw, and Leo ordered a new one.
- Finding muddy shoes on the white couch was the last straw for Ana.
- The surprise fee was the final straw, so we switched to a different phone company.
Where it comes from
It comes from a proverb about overloading an animal: one more tiny straw is enough to break a heavily loaded camel's back. Earlier English versions in the 1600s talked about the last feather that breaks a horse's back. By the mid-1800s, writers including Charles Dickens used the camel and straw version, and the last straw became its short form.
Check yourself
1. What is the last straw?
Answer: The final problem that makes someone lose patience. The last straw is the final annoyance that pushes someone too far.
2. Which longer saying does the last straw come from?
Answer: The straw that broke the camel's back. The full proverb says one extra straw can break an overloaded camel's back.
Similar idioms
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