proverb explanation

[Olivier Unity]

Please give the explanation for the proverb " A drowning man will clutch at a straw"

 

[probus]

A straw is a dried stem of grass. It will float on the surface of water. So the literal meaning is that a drowning man would attempt to grab a straw as if it were something substantial like a log, something large enough to help him to get to the surface. The figurative meaning is that when people are desperate they will try anything, no matter how wildly unlikely their action is to be successful.

 

[sharkerr]

It's pretty popular proverb actually and its interesting that that thing which a drowning man clutching at differs form language to language. In English its straw, but in Polish e.g., its a ... razor ! Probably because a razor is the last thing you would like to clutch at But meaning is absolutely the same as clutching at a straw which probus explained really well!