grasp at straws

Also, clutch at straws. Make a desperate attempt at saving oneself. For example, He had lost the argument, but he kept grasping at straws, naming numerous previous cases that had little to do with this one . This metaphoric expression alludes to a drowning person trying to save himself by grabbing at flimsy reeds. First recorded in 1534, the term was used figuratively by the late 1600s.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Hieronymus	hee-RO-nee-muws (German)	German, Dutch (Archaic), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Ambroos	-	Dutch
Eguzki	-	Basque
Meriwether	MER-i-wedh-ər	English (Rare)
Rollins	['rɔlinz]
Adelina	ah-de-LEE-nah (Italian), ah-dhe-LEE-nah (Spanish)	Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian, German, Bulgarian, Ancient Germanic (Latinized)