the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back
phrase
: the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset, angry, etc.
It had been a difficult week, so when the car broke down, it was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Cite this Entry
“The straw that breaks/broke the camel's back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20straw%20that%20breaks%2Fbroke%20the%20camel%27s%20back. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
