last straw

American  

noun

1. the last of a succession of irritations, incidents, remarks, etc., that leads to a loss of patience, a disaster, etc..

   He has been late before, but this is the last straw.

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last straw British  

noun

1. the final irritation or problem that stretches one's endurance or patience beyond the limit

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Etymology

Origin of last straw

First recorded in 1840–50; after the proverb “It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back”

Example Sentences

They set up freaking playdates, like we were toddlers, and that was the last straw.

From Literature

Him sabotaging my spot at Sunridge by pretending to be me was the last straw.

From Literature

"I looked online and saw no response from Target," said Macmillan, who had worked for the company in Texas since 2021, calling it "the last straw".

From BBC

I guess that was the last straw—old belly-button lint—because we never did that again.

From Literature

The shock is the last straw; the building’s integrity is officially compromised.

From Literature