eye of the needle

eye of the needle

1. Literally, the opening at end of a needle through which a thread is passed so it can be used for sewing. Would you mind getting this thread through the eye of the needle for me? My eyesight is so bad, I can't see where it's supposed to go.

2. By extension, an extremely narrow space. Hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun. There were so many people in the crowd, but we managed to make our way through the eye of the needle to get right in front of the stage. The player is remarkable for making eye-of-the-needle passes that slip between the defenders in front of their net.

See also: eye, needle, of

the eye of a needle

a very small opening or space (used to emphasize the impossibility of a projected endeavour).

This phrase comes from Matthew 19:24: ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God’.

2001 FourFourTwo Able to thread a pass through the eye of a needle, he can play in the centre or on either flank.

See also: eye, needle, of