I've heard this saying several times.
2007-10-02 08:20:15 · 12 answers · asked by trer 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Its not literal. It means that one straw extra has broken the camel's back. E.G a person is really annoying you and keeps pestering you. Each time they annoy you imagine a straw being put onto the back of the camel (which is carrying them). After a while they do one more annoying thing (one last straw on the camel's back for it to carry) and you can't take it anymore. You snap, the camel's back breaks under the weight.
Its basically the last thing that happens, no matter how small, that has built up and finally you can't take it anymore.
2007-10-02 08:26:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're thinking of "the straw that broke the camel's back." In this context straw is the kind of straw you'd feed to a horse. At any rate it means the final thing that has happened that either made a person break, or a final action that stirs one to action.
Imagine a camel with a whole bunch of stuff on its back. At some point some amount of weight will break it's back. Imagine if that camel was the weight of just one piece of straw away from breaking.
Get it?
2007-10-02 08:25:46 · answer #2 · answered by Kaze 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As you keep putting more straw on a camel's back at some point the entire weight will break its back. The last straw that you put on is the one that breaks his back.
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2007-10-02 08:23:34 · answer #3 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the camel has been carrying bales of straw, and to make only one journey, the owner tries to pack on the straw (not a drinking straw, the grass straw), but the very last single straw he put on his back made it too heavy for the camel and broke his back!
it means that the last thing that has happened to you that tipped you over the edge was "the last straw"!
2007-10-02 08:25:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The saying is that was the straw that broke the cames back, if you pile enough straw on a camel , eventually his back will break or he will collaps to the floor
2007-10-02 08:23:37 · answer #5 · answered by Seargent Gork 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not just that one straw. It's the LAST straw. In other words, the camel was so ladened with straw that just one last piece of straw caused it to collapse.
2007-10-02 08:22:59 · answer #6 · answered by mikah_smiles 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
its not just one straw. its just the LAST straw that breaks the camel's back. meaning there are other straws on its back.
2007-10-02 08:23:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
there's all stuff on the camel's back already and then someone puts a straw on it increasing the weight to JUST ENOUGH and SNAPPPPPPcrunch...hence the saying.
2007-10-02 08:23:23 · answer #8 · answered by Claudia 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because it is one straw too many. (There is already alot of straw on said camel's ack.)
2007-10-02 08:23:26 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. Scientist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It comes from the fact that if you keep increasing the load, at one point, it will break..... so even something as light as a straw, if it's too much, it's too much.
2007-10-02 08:23:18 · answer #10 · answered by tkquestion 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋