The Last Straw that Broke the Camel´s Back
“La gota que derramó el vaso
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- Meaning
This idiom, which is usually shortened for “this was the last Straw…”, means that someone, who is usually a resistant person, has reached the limit of their endurance and collapses or breaks into a mad streak.
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- Origin
Being the original 1677 expression, “the last feather that broke the horse´s back”, this expression was originally intended to mean that cargo animals which are well known for having a high limit of endurance, would get their backs broken if even a tiny light thing as an extra feather was added. It was Charles Dickens who, in the 1800´s changed this expression into “The Straw that broke the camel´s back”. If any person who is well known for having a really high endurance, is burden with more and more trouble or stress, that person would finally collapse.
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- Example
After being bullied for some months, Johnny decided to take Tae Kwon Do classes where he was taught that violence was never a resource to resort to. One day, while being bullied, he mentally repeated his mantra “The wise man never resorts to violence.” But after a while, he just shouted, “Enough is enough, This is the last straw that broke the camel´s back,” and started kicking everybody until they beeged for piety!
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