What does it mean?
Someone in deep trouble may try to hold on even to an uncertain solution.
Closest English saying: A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
What does it literally say?
Ο πνιγμένος από τα μαλλιά του πιάνεται
O pnigménos apó ta maliá tou piánete
“A drowning man grabs hold of his own hair.”
The exaggerated picture of trying to save yourself in the water shows despair and hope at the same time.
How is it used?
“He had no other choice and tried the last offer. A drowning man grabs hold of his own hair.”
Where does it come from?
Traditional Greek folk usage. eipane has not documented a first author or a first written record for this saying.
This is an English edition of the Greek entry, which remains the reference version. The English text was written from the Greek entry with the help of AI tools and checked against it. Suggest a correction ↗