needle in a haystack
Something that is difficult or impossible to locate.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Finding my lost key is like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“Searching for one specific document in this messy office is like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“The detective realized that searching for a single piece of evidence in the vast, ruined landscape was akin to finding a needle in a haystack.”
- 01
camel through the eye of a needle
Hyperbole to illustrate something that is impossible to do or to make happen.
- 02
move the needle
To change a situation to a noticeable degree; to make an appreciable difference.
- 03
needle drop
A digital copy of a vinyl record
- 04
needle mover
A factor which noticeably influences a performance.
- 05
peg the needle
To achieve the maximum level of something, to max out, to pull out all the stops.
- 06
thread the needle
To perform a tedious task with extreme precision; to manage to find harmony or strike a balance between conflicting forces, interests, etc.
Last updated August 10, 2026