The phrase, "Catching at straws," is hundreds of years old. It eventually morphed into "clutching at straws" and then, more recently, "grasping" at straws. No matter which you remember or prefer, the meaning is the same: To try and do something as a last resort that is very unlikely to succeed, or to simply consider positive suggestions or thoughts in a bad situation when you've tried, or thought, of everything else. I think there's another meaning which mass media, of late, has been guilty of: If you can't find anything bad to say about someone you don't like, don't stress over it - make something up. After all, what's journalism if you can't take a little artistic liberty with the truth, right?
To catch more of this coming edition of My Sunday Thought, please follow the attached link: Perpetually Catching at Straws