the last straw
我慢の限界
解説 Definition
それまで耐えてきた中で、ついに我慢の限界を超える最後の出来事を指す表現。
This phrase means the final problem in a series of problems that makes someone lose patience or decide to take action. It is often used when someone has accepted many difficulties, but cannot accept one more.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
straw は「わら」で1本は軽いのに、同じ種類の小さな不満や失礼が何度も重なり、最後の1本でついに耐えられなくなる場面を思い浮かべると定着しやすいです。核は last で、「最後の出来事が限界を超えさせた」という意味。That was the last straw. の形で、怒り・失望・我慢切れを言うときによく使います。単なる final problem ではなく、それまでの蓄積が前提の表現だと覚えるのがコツです。
Remember the image of many light pieces of straw piling up. One straw is nothing, but the last straw finally breaks patience. The key idea is not one problem alone, but a final problem after many others.
例文
When he forgot our anniversary again, that was the last straw.
彼がまた記念日を忘れたとき、それが我慢の限界だった。
The rude comment was the last straw, and she decided to quit.
その失礼な発言が最後の一線を超え、彼女は辞めることを決意した。
Being late for the third time was the last straw for his boss.
3回目の遅刻が上司にとって我慢の限界だった。
the last straw の語源・成り立ち Etymology
straw は古英語 streaw「わら」、last は古英語 laest「最後の」に由来する。the last straw は「最後の一本のわら」で、のちにラクダの背を折る一本ということわざから、積もった不満を決壊させる決定打を表す。strew も同系。
Straw comes from Old English streaw, and last comes from Old English laest, meaning "final." The phrase first meant simply "the final straw," but it became strongly shaped by the proverb about the last straw that breaks the camel's back. That is how it developed the sense of the final small thing that causes a collapse after many earlier pressures.
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