The Last Straw (Origin)

What Is the Origin of the Saying "The Last Straw"?

The term "the last straw" means a small burden that finally culminates with others to create an unbearable situation. The full version of "the last straw" is "the last straw that breaks the camel's back." The idiom presents the idea that the most recent "straw" (a metaphor for a small problem) has added to all the other "straws" (problems), culminating in a break-down.

This idiom is a variant of the early 19th century proverb "it is the last feather that breaks the horse's back."

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