IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishbe on pins and needles
Meaning: To be very anxious while waiting for something.
Example: “We were on pins and needles all evening, waiting for the test results.”
Origin: Recorded in English by 1810: an anxious person can't sit still, as if perched on something prickly. It draws on the tingling "pins and needles" of a limb that has fallen asleep.
Equivalents in other languages
Greek: Τρώω τα νύχια μου Literally: I'm eating my nails
French: Être sur des charbons ardents Literally: To be on hot coals
Norwegian: Å være på pinebenken Literally: To be on the torture bench
More English idioms
- worm something out of someone To get information from someone gradually and persistently.
- eat one's words To admit that something one said was wrong.
- have a big head To be conceited; to think too highly of oneself.
- have itchy feet To feel a restless urge to travel or move on.
- wait on someone hand and foot To do everything for someone, attending to their every need.
- bare one's teeth To show hostility and a readiness to fight.
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