Question of the Day #1003

The Rush album that Geddy Lee called "the straw that broke the camel's back"

From the headline of this article at Far Out Magazine.

  上記の文で、the straw that broke the camel's backの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "the straw that broke the camel's back" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

我慢の限界を超えるもの［こと］、最後の決定的な一撃、破滅のきっかけとなる最後の小さな出来事、ちょっとしたことだが我慢できないこと◆通例、過去形のbrokeを使うが、例外的にbreaksを使った言い方もある。

なお、the last strawというイディオムは、このthe straw that breaks/broke the camel's backのことを指しています。  

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset, angry, etc.

 

Examples

• According to El Nacional, this was the straw that broke the camel's back. — Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023
• We have been so unfairly discriminated against for so long, this was the straw that broke the camel's back. — Star Tribune, 25 June 2021
• He was told he would not be allowed to drive after his stroke and his son told the inquest at Reading Town Hall on November 9 that this was ‘the straw that broke the camel’s back’. (The Reading Chronicle)
• “The biggest problem is the lack of parking, the second thing is that people don’t want to pay to park, and the third thing is that fines are really the final straw that broke the camel’s back,” Campbell said. (The New Zealand Herald)
• I was already fed up with his laziness and insensitivity, but Jim's refusal to come with me to my own mother's funeral was the straw that breaks the camel's back.

   

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