rye straw
/ˈrʌɪ strɔː/noun
1The dried stalks or stems of rye.
2A single dried straw or stem of rye. Also figurative : †(a) a weak, insignificant person ( obsolete rare ); (b) US not to care (also give) a rye straw for: to care nothing for (now rare ).
Origin
Early 16th century; earliest use found in John Fitzherbert (d. 1531). From rye + straw.