short straw

noun

1. draw the short straw
   to be the person (as in drawing lots) to whom an unwelcome task or fate falls

Example Sentences

How it went down in the hall: Tugendhat drew the short straw by being selected to go first and he had to warm the crowd up.

From BBC

West Ham have drawn the short straw amongst English clubs in being given an early kick-off time as broadcaster TNT split the four games where the Premier League sides, plus Glasgow Rangers, are at home.

From BBC

It’s unlikely that Senate Republicans will go along with Duckworth’s bill this time either, although we do not yet know which senator will draw the short straw of having to make the objection on the floor.

From Slate

When he took on the job negotiating a border compromise, Lankford laughed that “he drew the short straw.”

From Seattle Times

Or as Mr. Lankford put it, he drew the “short straw when it came time to be able to negotiate all this.”

From New York Times