last straw

noun

Definition of last straw

: the last of a series (as of events or indignities) that brings one beyond the point of endurance

Examples of last straw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For Bumgarner, the three-time World Series champ and MVP of the 2014 Series, that might be the last straw. — John Shea, SFChronicle.com, "Giants’ Madison Bumgarner: Baseball rule changes ‘kind of getting out of hand’," 25 June 2018 But the last straw for her didn't even involve the village board. — Jane Ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Frustrated environmental-committee members resign. Now Hales Corners fruit and nut orchard is at risk," 18 June 2018 Meanwhile, salaries have remained stagnant for years, The last straw came last month when Mulki proposed a 5% increase in the corporate tax. — Nabih Bulos, latimes.com, "With protests rocking Jordan, king accepts resignation of prime minister, names reformer as successor," 4 June 2018 His best friend being killed in a bombing was the last straw. — NBC News, "Refugees called an Olympic venue home while looking for the real thing," 27 May 2018 The discussion seems to be the last straw for the model, who has come under fire on social media on more than one occasion. — Jillian Ruffo, PEOPLE.com, "Gigi Hadid Faces Backlash Over Pro-Palestine Tweets: 'Everything's Taken the Wrong Way'," 16 May 2018 This will all be the last straw for many of his listeners. — Maeve Mcdermott, USA TODAY, "Greatest rapper alive? How Kanye West devolved into just another internet troll," 3 May 2018 That was the last straw for Sukur, who quickly resigned from Erdogan’s party. — New York Times, "The Famous Soccer Player Hiding in Plain Sight in a California Bakery," 3 May 2018 The tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. was the last straw for thousands of people around the country and has provoked people to ask their public officials to adopt stricter gun-control laws. — Anthony Clark Carpio, latimes.com, "Burbank officials to further study gun regulation in the city," 11 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'last straw.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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last thing on someone's mind

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The first known use of last straw was in 1845

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