agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo

Spanish

Etymology

Literally, “cling to a burning nail”.

Verb

agarrarse a un clavo ardiendo (first-person singular present me agarro a un clavo ardiendo, first-person singular preterite me agarré a un clavo ardiendo, past participle agarrado a un clavo ardiendo)

1. (idiomatic) to clutch at straws
2. (idiomatic) any port in a storm

Further reading

• “agarrarse a, o de, un clavo ardiendo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.7, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2023 November 28