darning-needle
Definition
- Noun:
- A large-eyed needle for mending holes in fabric: A "darning-needle" is a long, thick needle with a large eye, specifically designed for darning (repairing holes or worn areas in cloth, especially socks or knitted garments).
- A dragonfly (North American informal): In some regions, particularly in the United States, "darning-needle" is a colloquial term for a dragonfly, referencing the insect's long, slender body that resembles a needle.
Usage Examples
For mending:
- She threaded the darning-needle with wool to repair the hole in her sock. (A large-eyed needle used for darning.)
- The darning-needle is too thick for delicate embroidery; it is meant for heavy fabric. (A tool for mending.)
For the insect:
- Children in the countryside often call a dragonfly a darning-needle. (A regional name for the insect.)
- I saw a darning-needle hovering over the pond. (A dragonfly in informal American English.)
Advanced Usage
- "darning-needle" as a metaphor: The term can be used figuratively to describe something long, thin, and sharp, like a needle.
- The skyscraper stood like a darning-needle against the sky. (Comparing a tall, thin building to a darning needle.)
Variants and Related Words
- Darning (n): The act of mending holes in fabric by stitching.
- She learned darning from her grandmother. (The craft of repairing cloth.)
- Needle (n): A slender, pointed tool used for sewing.
- A darning-needle is a type of needle with a large eye.
Synonyms
- For the mending tool: Sewing needle, mending needle, tapestry needle.
- For the insect: Dragonfly, darner (a type of dragonfly).
Related Idioms
- "Like a darning-needle in a haystack": A variant of "needle in a haystack," meaning something extremely difficult to find.
- Finding that tiny screw in the workshop is like looking for a darning-needle in a haystack. (An impossible search.)
Phrasal Verbs
- Darn up: To repair a hole by darning.
- She darned up the elbow of her sweater. (Mended the hole using a darning-needle.)