救命稻草 - Chinese Idiom

救命稻草

Literally means:

the straw to grab at for survival

Actually means:

稻草, the straw of rice crops after threshed, was generally regarded as useless or junk in the past. However, one who is drowning will clutch at a floating straw as a savior. It means that a desperate person seeks anything for a way out. It implies that the problem will not be solved. Derogatory.

稻草，从水稻取得谷粒后剩下的秆子，过去往往被当成废物或没有价值的东西。救命稻草，在水中快面的被淹死的人把漂浮在水面的稻草也当作救命的东西。指被处境极端困难的人当作可以摆脱困境，找到出路的人或东西。含有实际上不能解决问题的意思。具有贬义色彩。