From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdraw lots/strawsdraw lots/strawsDECIDEto decide who will do something by taking pieces of paper out of a container or choosing straws of hidden lengths We drew lots to see who would go first. → draw
Examples from the Corpus
draw lots/straws• It is a curious turn around from the days when bondholders pleased to be bought out and were driving to drawing lots!• She took it thoughtfully like some one choosing a straw when drawing lots.• Then we drew lots to decide the order in which we should improvise, night by night.• They drew lots to decide which should first seize his lady, and fortune favored Ephialtes.• The players alternate between the white and black pieces and draw lots to determine who plays white in today's first game.• They also took turns administering the city-state, drawing lots to settle who would take on which job.• Did you ever draw straws when you were a kid? 