(something) is the straw that broke the camel's back

Something is the last thing experienced in a series of recurring offenses or problems that causes one to finally lose patience or for something to stop working. It alludes to the idea that a single additional piece of straw could cause an overladen camel to finally collapse. A: "Why are you getting upset about it now? Tom's been taking credit for your ideas for years." B: "Yeah, but him getting a promotion out of it is the straw that broke the camel's back!" I've hiked miles and miles in these boots—I can't believe they finally fell apart while I was walking in my own driveway! But I guess that was the straw that broke the camel's back. OK, that's the straw that broke the camel's back, kids! I told you to stop shouting back there, and now I'm turning this car around.

a camel is a horse designed by a committee

Committees, due to their reliance on several different opinions and viewpoints, produce results that are fragmented, inefficient, or of poor quality, especially compared to the work of a single individual or a small team. A: "Did you see this latest memo? Can you believe the asinine decisions the task force made?" B: "Well, a camel is a horse designed by a committee." I think we need to make the board of trustees smaller, not larger. Remember, a camel is a horse designed by a committee. In reading your proposal, I was reminded of the axiom "a camel is a horse designed by a committee." That's why I want one of you—just one of you—to rewrite it, with a clear focus and coherent voice this time.

See also: by, camel, committee, design, horse

a camel is a horse made by a committee

Committees, due to their reliance on several different opinions and viewpoints, produce results that are fragmented, inefficient, or of poor quality, especially compared to the work of a single individual or a small team. A: "Did you see this latest memo? Can you believe the asinine decisions the task force made?" B: "Well, a camel is a horse made by a committee." I think we need to make the board of trustees smaller, not larger. Remember, a camel is a horse made by a committee. In reading your proposal, I was reminded of the axiom "a camel is a horse made by a committee." That's why I want one of you—just one of you—to rewrite it, with a clear focus and coherent voice this time.

See also: by, camel, committee, horse, made

a camel's nose (under the tent)

A small, seemingly innocuous act or decision that will lead to much larger, more serious, and less desirable consequences down the line. The term refers to an alleged Arab proverb that if a camel is allowed to get its nose inside of a tent, it will be impossible to prevent the rest of it from entering. Some regard legalizing same-sex marriage as a camel's nose under the tent, eventually leading to the destruction of marriage altogether. Not hiring an exterminator at the first sign of termites has proved to be a camel's nose, as much of our woodwork is now destroyed. If you let your employees work from home occasionally, it could well become a camel's nose under the tent. Like, good luck getting them to work a whole week in the office again!

camel through the eye of a needle

Used as part of a comparison to indicate that something is impossible or extremely difficult to accomplish. Taken from the passage in the Bible (Luke 18:25), "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." You'd have an easier time getting a camel through the eye of a needle than getting them to agree on the issue. Good luck getting a group of toddlers to sit still—you'd be better off fitting a camel through the eye of a needle. A: "I can't believe he thinks that he'll get into law school with his poor grades!" B: "I know, he's trying to put a camel through the eye of a needle with that plan."

See also: camel, eye, needle, of, through

camel toe

vulgar slang The outline of a woman's external genitalia as is visible through tight pants, said to resemble the toes on a camel's hoof. Be honest—is my camel toe too noticeable when I wear these leggings? You better wear a long shirt with those tight pants because you've got some serious camel toe, sister.

It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back

proverb After someone or something has experienced a series of recurring offenses or problems, even a minor one can be the one that causes one to finally lose patience or for something to stop working. It alludes to the idea that a single additional piece of straw could cause an overladen camel to finally collapse. Common versions of this phrase are "the last straw" and "the straw that broke the camel's back." A: "Why are you getting upset about it now? Tom's been taking credit for your ideas for years." B: "It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back!" I've hiked miles and miles in these boots—I can't believe they finally fell apart while I was walking in my own driveway! But I guess it is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. OK, that's it—I told you kids to stop shouting back there, and it is the last straw that breaks the camel's back! I'm turning this car around!

See also: back, break, last, straw, that

strain at a gnat and swallow a camel

To resist, criticize, or bemoan something minor or inconsequential while ignoring or overlooking something much more serious or important. The expression originated in the Bible, in Matthew 23:24. The government is letting the housing crisis spiral out of control while they spend millions trying to catch people who sublet their apartments without paying taxes. Talk about straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel!

See also: and, camel, gnat, strain, swallow

strain at gnats and swallow camels

See also: and, camel, gnat, strain, swallow

the straw that breaks the camel's back

A seemingly small or inconsequential issue, problem, or burden that proves to be the final catalyst in causing an overworked or overburdened person, system, organization, etc., to fail, give up, or collapse. With governmental resources already strained to the breaking point, any sort of environmental disaster would be the straw that breaks the camel's back. 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.

the straw that broke the camel's back

A seemingly small or inconsequential issue, problem, or burden that proved to be the final catalyst in causing an overworked or overburdened person, system, organization, etc., to fail, give up, or collapse. I was already fed up with my husband's lazy, selfish ways, but it was his refusal to get off the couch and come with me to my mother's funeral that was the straw that broke the camel's back! With governmental resources already strained to the breaking point, any sort of environmental disaster would likely be the straw that broke the camel's back.

trust in Allah, but tie up your camel

Have faith, but also take prudent action. My mother is very spiritual but also takes many steps to maintain her health. Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel, as the saying goes.

trust in God, but tie up your camel

Have faith, but also take prudent action. My mother is very spiritual but also takes many steps to maintain her health. Trust in God, but tie up your camel, as the saying goes.

strain at gnats and swallow camels

Prov. to criticize other people for minor offenses while ignoring major offenses. (Biblical.) Jill: Look at that. Edward is combing his hair at his desk. How unprofessional. Jane: Don't strain at gnats and swallow camels. There are worse problems than that around here.

See also: and, camel, gnat, strain, swallow

camel

see under last straw.

last straw, the

The final annoyance or setback, which even though minor makes one lose patience. For example, I could put up with his delays and missed deadlines, but when he claimed the work was unimportant-that was the last straw! This term is a shortening of the straw that broke the camel's back, which conveys a vivid image of an overloaded animal being given one slight additional weight. The expression dates from the mid-1800s, and replaced the earlier the last feather that breaks the horse's back.

the straw that breaks the camel's back

If you say that something is the straw that breaks the camel's back, you mean it is the latest in a series of bad events, and it makes you unable to deal with a situation any longer. Last week, I broke my wrist skateboarding and that was the straw that broke the camel's back as far as my dad was concerned. He has ordered me to stay away from anything that could get me into an accident. Compare with the last straw. Note: The reference here is to an animal which is already carrying a great deal on its back and which collapses when one more thing is added.

camel toes

n. a woman’s vulva as it appears through blue jeans, especially jeans that have been pulled up too tight. There’s nothing attractive about camel toes.

camel through a needle's eye, a

An impossibility. The whole phrase, which comes from the Gospels of St. Matthew (19:24) and St. Mark (10:25), states that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. Variants appear in both Jewish religious writings and in the Islamic Koran. The thought is repeated by Shakespeare in Richard II (5.5): “It is as hard to come as for a camel to thread the postern of a small needle’s eye.”

last straw, the

The final minor irritation; one last superfluous item. This term, also put as the straw that broke the camel’s back, appears in Dickens’s Dombey and Son (1848). It is a version of the earlier “last feather that breaks the horse’s back,” found in Archbishop John Bramhall’s Works (1677) and repeated in Fuller’s Gnomologia (1732). Both convey a vivid image of something that would not be burdensome if there were not too much of it, but the straw version is the one that survived and became a cliché.

the straw that broke the camel's back

The final limit of capacity, including patience. An Arabian anecdote told of a camel whose owner loaded the beast of burden with as much straw as possible. Not satisfied with the staggering load he had put on the camel, the owner added just one last piece of straw. Even that one wisp was too much, and the animal collapsed with a broken back, leaving the owner with no way to take his goods to the market. The story is a parable for all the times you've been repeatedly irked until you can't take it anymore and you explode.