draw straws for (something)
To decide something by picking at random from straws of different lengths. The person who pulls the shortest straw is usually the one chosen for something, often an unpleasant task. Let's draw straws for it—it's the only fair way to decide who goes first.
draw straws for something
Fig. to decide who gets something or must do something by choosing straws from an unseen set of straws of different lengths. (The person who gets the shortest straw is chosen. See also draw lots.) We drew straws for the privilege of going first. Let's draw straws for it.