There are many idioms and proverbs related to drowning and the effects of storms.  We say, “any port in a storm” which originated in 1749, or “a drowning man will clutch at a straw (stick)” as penned by an incarcerated Sir Thomas Moore in 1534.

The concept of a desperate person clutching at anything flimsy or immediately safe or satisfying has been around for centuries.  People in need will take desperate measures to overcome a situation that is threatening them.  How often do we see somebody who, when faced with a difficult problem and in the absence of specific experience or knowledge, will grasp at any idea or excuse in acts of self-preservation. Continue reading →