pins and needles

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Related to pins and needles: Pins and needles sensation

pins and needles

pl.n.

A tingling sensation felt in a part of the body numbed from lack of circulation.

Idiom:

on pins and needles

In a state of tense anticipation.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pins and needles

n (functioning as singular)

1. a tingling sensation in the fingers, toes, legs, etc, caused by the return of normal blood circulation after its temporary impairment

2. on pins and needles in a state of anxious suspense or nervous anticipation

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pins′ and nee′dles

n.pl.

a tingly, prickly sensation in a limb that is recovering from numbness.

Idioms:

on pins and needles, in a state of nervous anticipation.

[1800–10]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun

pins and needles - a sharp tingling sensation from lack of circulation

prickling, tingling, tingle - a somatic sensation as from many tiny prickles

Translations

تَنْميل في الرِّجْل

brnění

Kribbeln

zsibbadás

náladofi

cavicchio formicolio

kriblende følelse prikkende følelse

karıncalanmauyuşma

发麻

pins and needles

npl → formicolio msg

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

(pin) noun

1. a short, thin, pointed piece of metal used eg to hold pieces of fabric, paper etc together, especially when making clothes. The papers are fastened together by a pin.

2. a similar but more ornamental object. a hat-pin.

verb – past tense, past participle pinned –

1. to fasten with a pin. She pinned the material together.

2. to hold by pressing against something. The fallen tree pinned him to the ground.

ˈpincushion noun

a small cushion or similar object into which pins are pushed for keeping.

ˈpinhole noun

a hole made by a pin. A pinhole camera does not need a lens.

ˈpinpoint verb

to place or show very exactly. He pinpointed the position on the map.

ˈpin-up noun

1. a picture of an attractive girl (or man), often pinned on a wall. He has dozens of pin-ups in his room; (also adjective) a pin-up girl.

2. the girl (or man). She's the favourite pin-up of the soldiers.

pin down

to make (someone) give a definite answer, statement, opinion or promise. I can't pin him down to a definite date for his arrival.

pins and needles

a tingling feeling in one's hands, arms, feet or legs. I've got pins and needles in my arm.

pins and needles

npl (sensation) hormigueo

References in classic literature ?

Then he entered the back room and took up a measure of bran, which he mixed with a great many pins and needles. Having shaken them together thoroughly, he filled the top of the Scarecrow's head with the mixture and stuffed the rest of the space with straw, to hold it in place.

View in context

She was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and having a square impregnable bib in front, that was stuck full of pins and needles. She made it a powerful merit in herself, and a strong reproach against Joe, that she wore this apron so much.

View in context

'FBs removed during urgent EGD were mainly coins followed by disc batteries from the esophagus and the stomach,' said Dr Lawati, adding, 'Pins and needles being sharp and long (3-4 cm) were found in 23 children and only eight of them required urgent EGD.'

COINS, DISC BATTERIES MOST COMMON SWALLOWED FOREIGN BODIES AMONG OMANI CHILDREN

It was only a couple of days later when he started to feel "pins and needles" spread from his hands and feet, leaving him unable to walk.

Dad left unable to walk or talk after 'dodgy stomach'

A HUSBAND thought his wife had pins and needles because she had been lying watching TV too long - but she was in fact suffering a stroke.

I thought wife had pins and needles - it was a stroke

Another important reason for having regular B12 injections is that a deficiency of the vitamin can cause problems with the nerves supplying your hands and feet (hence the pins and needles), as well as heart problems.