pins and needles
Noun: * A sharp, prickling, tingling, or stinging sensation, often described as a feeling of numbness, that occurs in a limb when pressure on nerves or blood vessels is relieved and normal circulation returns. It is commonly experienced after sitting or lying in one position for too long.
This noun is typically used as a non-count noun to describe the physical sensation itself. It is most commonly used in the phrase "to have pins and needles" or "to be on pins and needles," though the latter has a distinct idiomatic meaning.
- Describing the sensation:
- I sat cross-legged for an hour and now I have pins and needles in my foot.
- After his arm fell asleep, he felt a painful case of pins and needles as the blood flow returned.
- The tingling pins and needles sensation slowly faded away.
- To be on pins and needles: This is an idiom with a different meaning. It describes a state of nervous anxiety, tense excitement, or impatient anticipation.
- We were on pins and needles waiting for the exam results.
- The suspenseful movie had me on pins and needles the entire time.
- Paresthesia (n): The medical term for an abnormal sensation, such as tingling, tickling, pricking, or numbness, of a person's skin with no apparent physical cause. "Pins and needles" is a common form of temporary paresthesia.
- Tingling (n/adj): A slight prickling or stinging sensation. Often used synonymously with "pins and needles."
- Numbness (n): A loss of sensation or feeling in a part of the body. "Pins and needles" often precedes or follows numbness.
- Tingling
- Prickling
- Stinging sensation
- Numbness (related, but not identical)
The phrase "pins and needles" is a fixed compound noun. It is important to distinguish between the literal physical sensation (to have pins and needles) and the idiomatic expression describing anxiety (to be on pins and needles).
- a sharp tingling sensation from lack of circulation