Idiom: The Last Straw

the final problem that causes a reaction

Examples

• His rudeness was the last straw.

Key rules

• The last straw means the final problem that makes you lose patience
• It is used with "was" or "is": his rudeness was the last straw
• It is preceded by "the"
• It comes from the saying about a straw that breaks a camel's back

Common mistakes

• His rudeness was a last straw → His rudeness was the last straw