藁わらにもすがる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

grasp at straws; resort to desperate measures

Idiomatic expression used when someone in a hopeless situation clings to even the slightest, most unreliable hope or help. Often used with verbs like 思う or in explanatory phrases.

• 彼かれは藁わらにもすがる思おもいで、いかがわしい情じょう報ほう商しょう材ざいを買かってしまった。

  He was so desperate that he ended up buying a shady information product, grasping at straws.

• 藁わらにもすがる気き持もちで、最さい後ごの面めん接せつに臨のぞんだ。

  With a feeling of grasping at straws, I went into the final interview.