be in such a desperate situation as to resort to even the most unlikely means of salvation
捞救命稻草,作最后的绝望挣扎。[ORIGIN from the proverb
-
a drowning man will clutch at a straw .]draw the short straw be the unluckiest of a group of people, especially in being chosen to perform an unpleasant task抽到下下签(尤指被选中去执行倒霉任务)。