IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishhave pins and needles
Meaning: To feel a prickling, tingling sensation in a limb that has gone numb.
Example: “I sat cross-legged through the whole movie and now I have pins and needles in my foot.”
Origin: It describes the prickling that comes as feeling returns to a numb limb, as if it were full of tiny pins. The expression is recorded from the early 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Avoir des fourmis dans les jambes Literally: To have ants in the legs
More English idioms
- be on pins and needles To be very anxious while waiting for something.
- make a killing To make a lot of money quickly.
- worm something out of someone To get information from someone gradually and persistently.
- lie low To stay out of sight and avoid attention.
- eat one's words To admit that something one said was wrong.
- get lucky To succeed in having a sexual encounter.
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