haystack

be like looking for a needle in a haystack

to be difficult or impossible to find. I don't know how you find anything in your desk, Polly. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack.

See also: like, look, needle

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a needle in a haystack

something extremely hard to find. It's pretty much a needle in a haystack because these fish are extremely hard to find.

Usage notes: also used in the forms look for a needle in a haystack and find a needle in a haystack

Etymology: based on the idea that it is to almost impossible to find a thin sewing needle in a haystack (= a very tall pile of dried grass)

See also: needle