needle (redirected from needled)

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: haystack, like, look

be on pins and needles (American & Australian)

to be nervously waiting to see what is going to happen. We're on pins and needles waiting to hear whether she got the job.

See also: pin

have pins and needles

to feel slight, sharp pains in a part of your body when you move it after it has been kept still for a period of time. I've been sitting on my leg for the last hour and now I've got pins and needles in my foot. (often + in)

See also: pin

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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: haystack

on pins and needles

worried or excited about something. I was on pins and needles until she called to say she had arrived in Istanbul.

See also: pin