draw straws 是英语流传千年的民间传统习语，起源于欧洲古代民间抽签习俗。古时人们收集长短不一的麦秆、稻草，将一端捏在手中隐藏长度，参与者随机抽取，以抽到最短或最长稻草的人决定人选、分配任务、判定输赢或承担某项责任。该表达演化为通用英语，draw straws for sth专指为某事抽签、抓阄（决定某事）。

常用结构：

draw straws for sth（为某事抽签）；

draw straws to do sth（抽签做某事）。

如：

We couldn’t decide who would go first, so we drew straws for the turn.

我们无法决定谁先上场，于是抽签来确定顺序。

We drew straws for who went first.

我们抽签决定谁先去。

The two lovers drew straws for choosing the travel route on their honeymoon.

这对恋人抽签决定蜜月的出行路线。

Our class drew straws for the student representative to attend the seminar.

我们班抽签选出参加研讨会的学生代表。

When the team had to send one member to the remote area, they drew straws for the duty.

团队需要派人前往偏远地区，众人抽签决定谁承担任务。

Since no one volunteered, the soldiers drew straws for the dangerous patrol mission.

没人主动请缨，士兵们便抽签决定谁去执行这项危险的巡逻任务。

The cabinet members drew straws for speaking order at the press conference.

内阁成员抽签确定新闻发布会的发言顺序。

The diplomats drew straws for who would deliver the joint statement.

外交官们抽签决定由谁来宣读联合声明。

None of us wants to clean the basement, so let’s draw straws for it.

我们没人想打扫地下室，那就抽签决定吧。《老友记》

The young men drew straws for the chance to invite ladies to dance.

年轻男士们抽签争取邀请女士共舞的机会。《傲慢与偏见》