# needle in a haystack

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/needle-in-a-haystack
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Something that is difficult or impossible to locate.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.