the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back
idiom
: the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset, angry, etc.
It had been a difficult week, so when the car broke down, it was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Examples of the straw that breaks/broke the camel's back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
—
Jessica Sager, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
There were other things outside of that also that were not meshing, and that was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 14 Oct. 2023
For many, this week's gaffe was also the straw that broke the camel's back.
—Jeva Lange, TheWeek, 10 June 2020
According to El Nacional, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023
We have been so unfairly discriminated against for so long, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
—Star Tribune, 25 June 2021
Kaine predicted that Manchin will vote for the bill, and that Republicans blocking it along party lines will be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
—Andrew Solender, Forbes, 22 June 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jessica Sager, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024
There were other things outside of that also that were not meshing, and that was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 14 Oct. 2023
For many, this week's gaffe was also the straw that broke the camel's back.
—Jeva Lange, TheWeek, 10 June 2020
According to El Nacional, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023
We have been so unfairly discriminated against for so long, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
—Star Tribune, 25 June 2021
Kaine predicted that Manchin will vote for the bill, and that Republicans blocking it along party lines will be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
—Andrew Solender, Forbes, 22 June 2021
Cite this Entry
“The straw that breaks/broke the camel's back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20straw%20that%20breaks%2Fbroke%20the%20camel%27s%20back. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share