last straw meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

last straw

noun

Etymology Ellipsis of the straw that broke the camel's back.

Idiomatic A small addition to an already heavy burden which causes it to exceed the capacity.

Almost always preceded by the

That's the last straw; it's a petty demand but I’m already under too much work. I quit!
First to fail, inevitably, are the airlines. For Flybe, which was already losing money at the rate of £2 million a day, Coronavirus was the last straw.2020 March 25, “Network News: What COVID-19 means for rail in a wider transport context”, in Rail, page 10:

Synonyms: final straw, the straw that broke the camel's back, the stroke that broke the camel's back
Related terms: deal breaker