To depend on your memory without studying for a test is to grasp at straws.
The robber clutched at straws to make excuses. He said he wasn't in the country when the robbery happened.
Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". Оригинал: A.Маккей, М.Т.Боткер, Дж.И.Гейтс. 1997.
clutch at straws — clutch/grasp/at straws phrase to try to find anything at all that will help you or give you hope in a difficult situation, when it is likely that you will find nothing She knew she was clutching at straws, thinking he might help her. Thesaurus:… … Useful english dictionary
clutch at straws — If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws … The small dictionary of idiomes
clutch at straws — ► clutch at straws resort in desperation to unlikely or inadequate means of salvation. [ORIGIN: from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw.] Main Entry: ↑straw … English terms dictionary
clutch at straws — 1. to try any method, even those that are not likely to succeed, because you are in such a bad situation. He s hoping that this new treatment will help him but I think he s clutching at straws. (usually in continuous tenses) 2. to try to find… … New idioms dictionary
clutch at straws — If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
Clutch at straws — If someone is in serious trouble and tries anything to help them, even though their chances of success are probably nil, they are clutching at straws … Dictionary of English idioms
clutch — 1 verb (I) to hold something or someone tightly, especially because you are frightened, in pain, or do not want to lose something: Tom fell to the ground clutching his stomach. | A woman clutching a baby stole an elderly woman s purse. clutch at… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
clutch — [[t]klʌ̱tʃ[/t]] clutches, clutching, clutched 1) VERB If you clutch at something or clutch something, you hold it tightly, usually because you are afraid or anxious. [V at n] I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support... [V n] She was… … English dictionary
clutch/grasp at straws — to try to solve a problem by doing things that probably will not help I asked her for a loan. I didn t think she d agree, but at that point I was grasping at straws. • • • Main Entry: ↑straw … Useful english dictionary
clutch (or grasp or catch) at straws — resort in desperation to unlikely or inadequate means of salvation. [from the proverb a drowning man will clutch at a straw.] → straw … English new terms dictionary
