Last straw

The last straw

Meaning

The last of a series of problems, which pushes one’s endurance beyond its limits.

Examples

I’ve put up with his taunting for years but picking on my daughter was the last straw and I punched him.

Where did it originate?

Britain, early 19th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.