Drawing lots or drawing straws is a selection method, or a form of sortition, that is used by a group to choose one member of the group to perform a task after none has volunteered for it. The same practice can be used also to choose one of several volunteers, should an agreement not be reached.

(idiomatic) To guess randomly or pursue any apparent option, due to a lack of clear choices or information. I've never met his mother, so I'm grasping at straws for an appropriate gift for her. (idiomatic) To get hold of any help, even if it is insignificant.

trying to find some way to succeed when nothing you choose is likely to work: We searched all the backup tapes, trying to find the missing files, but we knew we were grasping at straws. trying to find a reason to feel hopeful in a bad situation: I knew my mother was dying, but I was grasping at straws and denying reality.

Grasping at straws is a popular idiomatic expression, used to refer to a desperate attempt at saving oneself, before the Last Straw will “break the camel’s back”. It is used especially in the same context with hasty actions based on unfounded ideas and speculation, usually resulting in catastrophe.